Saudi university secures X-ray film patent

NEW DELHI: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef held a series of high-level meetings with leaders of prominent Indian mining companies on Friday to discuss investment opportunities and strengthen cooperation in the mining sector.

During his official visit to India, Alkhorayef held discussions aimed at enhancing collaboration in exploration, production and processing of critical metals, as well as fostering knowledge exchange and innovation between the two nations, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The minister met representatives from Vedanta, an Indian multinational mining company headquartered in Mumbai, to explore investment opportunities in the copper value chain, with both parties expressing interest in advancing cooperation to support the development of this essential metal.

Additionally, he held talks with Bharat Forge — which specializes in forging, automotives, energy, construction and mining, railways, marine, aerospace and defense — to examine prospects in the iron sector.

In another meeting with Aditya Birla, a company specializing in copper and aluminum, discussions centered on potential collaboration in mineral exploration and processing.

The Indian firm expressed its intent to establish a framework for joint cooperation in the natural and mineral resources sectors, with aluminum manufacturing also identified as a key area of interest.

Alkhorayef also met representatives from Essar Company to review opportunities in the iron and steel industry, and get updates on Essar’s project in Saudi Arabia, which is focused on producing iron plates for construction applications.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have sent condolences to Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on the passing of former Prime Minister Sid Ahmed Ghozali.

In his message, King Salman expressed his deepest sympathy to the Algerian president and the family of the deceased, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The crown prince conveyed his condolences in a separate message, echoing the king’s sentiments, the SPA added.

Ghozali died at the age of 88 on Feb. 4 at the Ain Naaja military hospital in Algiers, state television reported. He was buried the next day at Ben Aknoun cemetery.

A graduate of Ecole des Ponts et Chaussees in Paris, Ghozali’s career in public service started in 1964 when he was named under-secretary of state for public works shortly after Algeria’s independence.

He subsequently held numerous high-ranking ministerial positions including energy, water resources, finance and foreign affairs, before being appointed prime minister from June 1991 to July 8, 1992.

As minister of energy and industry, he headed Sonatrach, Algeria’s national oil company, from 1966 to 1977, overseeing the nationalization of the hydrocarbons industry in 1971.