Riyadh and Tokyo Bolster Partnership In Mining and Mineral Resources Sector

Saudi Arabia and Japan signed a pact on Sunday to expand cooperation in the field of mining and mineral resources, highlighting Japan’s commitment to work with the Kingdom, which has a stable supply of minerals, and Saudi Arabia’s focus on diversifying its economy.

The agreement was inked in Riyadh between Saudi Arabia’s Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar AlKhorayef and Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ken Saito. In addition, Saito held discussions with the Kingdom’s Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih.

Advanced Wastewater Treatment Technologies In Focus

In March, the Japanese minister arrived in Riyadh and signed a deal with Saudi Arabia to invest in resource-rich countries – with a focus on securing interests in nickel, lithium and other minerals for the production of EV batteries.

Meanwhile, the National Debt Management Centre and the Ministry of Finance inked a MoU with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation that is expected to facilitate activities of mutual benefit and improve partnership between the two sides.

On Sunday, the National Water Company and the Japanese FujiClean Company signed a MoU to foster cooperation in the transfer, localisation and development of advanced wastewater treatment technologies produced by FujiClean.

The features of the new Japanese technology – user-friendly operation, minimal space requirement and cost-effectiveness – make it suitable for deployment in remote and dispersed population areas, said Mansour Abu Thunain.

Training Programmes and Expanding Current Capabilities

The NWC Executive Deputy for Projects and Technical Services Sector underlined NWC’s commitment as a national company, adding it will collaborate with the Japanese side to implement a localisation programme for the technologies offered by FujiClean.

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The initiative includes developing training programmes for NWC engineers and technicians, in addition to expanding current capabilities through collaboration with local and foreign sectors, under the terms outlined in the agreement.