Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef recently visited Columbia University in the United States as part of his official tour to promote industrial and mining cooperation and attract quality investments to Saudi Arabia. Columbia University, founded in 1754, is the oldest university in New York State and is ranked 34th in the QS World University Rankings for 2025. During his visit, Alkhorayef learned about the latest academic programs supporting industrial and mining sectors and engaged in discussions with faculty members, Saudi, American, and international students.
In an interactive session with academics and students, Alkhorayef highlighted Saudi Arabia’s industrial and mining transformation, focusing on the promising sectors being developed under the national industrial strategy. He emphasized Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to position the Kingdom as a global industrial power, diversify income sources, and increase the contribution of industrial and mining sectors to the national GDP. Alkhorayef also stressed the importance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Scholarship Program and the Human Capacity Development Program in developing national talents and equipping them with global competitiveness skills.
The minister underscored the government’s commitment to investing in its citizens and cultivating talent through education and capacity building initiatives. He emphasized the significance of the scholarship program in fostering cultural communication among nations and providing Saudi scholarship students abroad with the opportunity to explore future prospects in the Kingdom’s industrial and mining sectors. Alkhorayef highlighted the industrial and mineral resources ecosystem’s efforts to engage with Saudi scholarship students abroad and ensure that their skills acquired overseas contribute effectively to the country’s industrial development.
Columbia University, known for producing scholars and Nobel Prize winners, serves as a global hub of academic excellence that aligns with Saudi Arabia’s goals to advance its industrial and mining sectors. Alkhorayef’s visit to Columbia University is part of his broader tour of the United States, aimed at strengthening ties in the industrial and mining sectors, exploring investment opportunities, and enhancing Saudi Arabia’s presence in advanced industrial sectors such as technology and innovation. This visit emphasizes Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to build strategic partnerships with global academic institutions to drive innovation and foster sustainable growth in the industrial and mining sectors as part of Vision 2030.
The tour includes key states like New York, California, and Nevada, where Alkhorayef will continue to engage with academic and business communities to promote industrial and mining cooperation and attract investments to Saudi Arabia. Through collaboration with institutions like Columbia University, the Kingdom aims to leverage the expertise and research capabilities of these institutions to enhance its industrial and mining sectors, positioning Saudi Arabia as a global industrial powerhouse and driving economic diversification in line with Vision 2030. The visit underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to building sustainable partnerships to achieve its industrial goals and drive innovation in the sector.
