Second MENA - EXPO concludes activities

Jeddah, January 24, SPA -- The Second International exhibition and
forum on mineral exploration and applications (MENA-EX 2009),
concluded its activities here yesterday.

As many as 80 local and international companies working in the field
of exploration and development of mineral resources participated in
the Expo.

It was hosted under the auspices of the Ministry of Petroleum and
Mineral Resources, represented by the Agency of mineral Resources;
the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS); the Saudi Arabian Mining Company
MA'ADEN; Austrade; the Saudi Ministry of Transport; the Saudi Ports
Authority; the Saudi Railways Organization, and British CWC at Hilton
Hotel in Jeddah.


The Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Talaat Idriss has
estimated the number of visitors, investors, businessmen and experts
amounted to 5000.

He said the exhibition led to the signing of a number of bilateral
agreements in principle between local and international companies to
discuss investment opportunities in this sector including the
establishment of Saudi-South African mining consultancy company based
in Jeddah to provide services to investors in the field of mineral
exploration and mining industry in addition to the appointment of
Dr. Maher Idris, former Deputy Chief of the Saudi Geological Survey
as a company director.

Idris said that the exhibition resulted in the expected launching of
Saudi Foreign holding mining company to support the operations and
exploration of mineral mines to be announced soon, adding that the
date for the 3rd MENA - EX will be on January 19-20, 2010, once again
to be hosted by Jeddah.