Cairo: Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi held discussions with key officials from Australian, Chinese, and South African mining companies to explore new investment opportunities in Egypt's mining sector, particularly in gold and mineral exploration. The talks occurred during Badawi's attendance at the Africa Down Under mining and energy conference in Perth, Australia. The discussions centered on enhancing Egypt's mining investment framework and the recent reforms aimed at creating a more inviting investment climate.

According to State Information Service Egypt, during a meeting with Craig Jones, Managing Director and CEO of Australia's Perseus Mining, Badawi emphasized the potential for collaboration in gold mining, highlighting Egypt's geological advantages, infrastructure, licensing procedures, and operational costs. The conversation also covered Perseus Mining's experience in Africa and the possibility of integrating Egyptian projects into their growth plans.

In a separate discussion with John Zhang, Managing Director of China's Xinhai, Badawi explored avenues for cooperation in engineering, technology, and ore processing. They reviewed Xinhai's strategic partnership with Canadian firm Aton Resources, which includes a C$4 million investment, and considered expanding their collaboration to increase the value of Egypt's mineral resources.

Badawi also engaged with Kelly Carter, Executive Vice President of South Africa's Gold Fields, to examine opportunities in gold and copper exploration in the Arabian-Nubian Shield. Badawi highlighted the recent reforms in Egypt's mining sector, which facilitate global companies' evaluation of opportunities and enhance the geological database's accessibility.

In talks with Doug Horak, CEO of the Australia-Africa Minerals and Energy Group (AAMEG), Badawi discussed deepening ties with the Australian mining sector. They reflected on Egypt's membership in AAMEG and the subsequent visits by Australian delegations, which have provided insights into Egypt's mining potential. The minister stressed the importance of leveraging this partnership to integrate Egypt into Australia's mining ecosystem and attract specialized capital for exploration.

Yasser Ramadan, Chairman of the Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority, along with other officials, participated in the conference meetings, underscoring Egypt's commitment to fostering international mining investments.