The activities of the 11th International Forum and Exhibition on the Economies of Mines and Quarries in the Arab World (Ecominex 11) concluded in Cairo, having been held from May 16 to 18, 2026.
The forum was organized by the Arab Society for Mining and Petroleum in cooperation with the Egyptian Geological Survey Association, and under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry, the Arab Organization for Industrial Development, Standardization and Mining (AIDSM), the Arab Organization for Industrialization, and the Arab Geologists Association.
Engineer Abdullah Ghorab, Chairman of the Forum and the Arab Society for Mining and Petroleum, stated that the event witnessed wide participation from official delegations and experts representing Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Mauritania, Angola, and the United States, alongside an elite group of scientists and leading companies.
The discussions resulted in the launch of the “Cairo Mining Declaration 2026” (The Twentieth Declaration), which sets a strategic vision for the future of the sector.
Dr. Hassan Bakhit, Secretary-General of the Forum and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, explained that the prominent recommendations of this declaration are embodied in the following points:
- Legislative and Structural Reform: By activating a “Single Window” system to accelerate mine licensing, alongside a recommendation to separate the Geological Survey from the Mineral Resources Authority so it can return as an independent sovereign and informational entity.
- Maximizing Value Addition: By linking the issuance of licenses to the submission of binding feasibility studies to achieve value addition, and prohibiting the use of high-purity raw materials for low-value purposes.
- Flexible Export Strategy: By demanding the replacement of the comprehensive export ban with a “surplus export quota” system to ensure the operational continuity of quarries and preserve technical employment.
- Supporting the Global Gold System: By accelerating the launch of an Egyptian/regional exchange for gold and precious metals, and finding a legal formula to legalize artisanal mining while protecting the rights of both the state and the miners. The committee also announced the launch of the “Independent International Gold Forum” next December.
- Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence: The forum recommended activating the role of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in analyzing geological database systems to reduce exploration risks, while adopting rigorous cybersecurity strategies to protect sovereign data.
- Supporting Continental Logistical Connectivity: By recommending the construction of two railway lines linking Egypt to Mauritania and Cape Town, serving as a pillar for resource security and ensuring the flow of strategic raw materials at a competitive cost.
- Human Capital Development: Through the establishment of an independent training fund to finance foreign scholarships, and training economic journalists to ensure the drafting of accurate media messages that support investment.
The forum concluded by emphasizing that this declaration represents a document of professional commitment and scientific stewardship aimed at preserving Arab and African capabilities and maximizing their value for future generations.
