Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef began an official visit to the United States on Monday, aiming to strengthen industry and mining cooperation, enhance ties between the two countries, attract investments to Saudi Arabia, and explore opportunities in key industrial sectors such as aviation and space.
During his visit, which will continue until September 28, Alkhorayef will travel to New York, California, and Nevada. He is scheduled to meet with government officials and CEOs of top American companies to discuss knowledge transfer, innovation, advanced manufacturing technologies in strategic industrial sectors in Saudi Arabia, and the latest smart solutions used in mining operations.
In New York, the minister will meet with industry ministers and global leaders in industrial transformation at an event organized by the Kingdom in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The event’s goal is to gather support for hosting the 21st session of the UNIDO General Conference in Riyadh in 2025, as well as the Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum (MIPF) in October this year. This event aims to strengthen ties between Saudi Arabia and UNIDO and develop innovative industrial solutions and policies that promote regional and global industrial development.
Additionally, Alkhorayef’s itinerary includes a visit to the New York Stock Exchange, the largest stock exchange market in the US, and a trip to Columbia University to engage with faculty members and students.
In Las Vegas, Nevada, the minister will attend “MINExpo,” the world’s premier mining exhibition, where he will meet with representatives of leading mining companies and explore the latest technologies used in mining operations. The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources will participate in the exhibition organized by the National Mining Association (NMA).
Alkhorayef will also hold a roundtable meeting with heads of major US companies during his time in Los Angeles, California, to discuss promising industrial sectors outlined in the National Industrial Strategy, the opportunities they offer, and the potential and incentives provided by Saudi Arabia to foreign investors. Bilateral meetings with private sector leaders are also on the agenda.
Furthermore, the minister will visit renowned companies in advanced industries, such as JetZero, a California-based aviation enterprise, to explore potential collaboration in the aviation industry. He will also visit SpaceX, a prominent entity in space exploration technologies.
In addition to his business engagements, Alkhorayef’s schedule in the US includes meetings with Saudi students pursuing studies there. Saudi Arabia has strong economic ties with the US, with total non-oil Saudi exports to the US reaching SAR10.08 billion in 2023, and total non-oil imports from the US to Saudi Arabia valued at SAR67.61 billion in the same year. Key exports include chemical products, basic metals and their derivatives, aircraft and ship components, and transport equipment, while significant American imports consist of nuclear reactors, railway locomotives, optical instruments, electrical machinery and equipment, and pharmaceutical products.