Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has opened discussion with global players in the mineral resources value-chain in the areas of financing, equipment and new technology.

Bello is using the Dubai Mining Conference and Exhibition holding at the Dubai World Trade Centre to engage with global industry players and experts.

The Governor, who said he led the state team to the event in order to personally engaged with right partners, noted that mineral resources value-chain was a highly technical area that require interface with key global players.

“Our commitment to diversifying the state economy requires partnership on a global scale. We are taking advantage of Dubai Mining Conference and exhibition to meet and open discussion with various players in the industry. We need to engage right partners that have technical know-how, industry knowledge and global reach. ”

“We have also listened to various presentations by other countries and industry experts on shared experiences, learnt lessons, best practices, emerging trends, legislative frameworks, occupational safety and environmental concerns..”

Bello, who said developing the mineral resources value-chain requires commitment and painstaking efforts, disclosed that the administration was determined to deploying short, medium and long term strategy in the area.

“We are determined to engage with industry players differently. We are committed to deploy new strategies in maximizing huge potentials available in the state. We are mindful of environmental and safety concern prevalent in the sector.”

He reiterated his commitment to developing the sector through collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and said that the was open and safe for investors.

“Within the last two years of this administration in the state, we have taken bold step to reposition the sector. We have established a new ministry of mineral resources specifically to focus on maximizing the state potentials in the area,”Bello declared.

The Dubai Conference and Exhibition included presentations on new trends, emerging technologies and opportunities is the largest Mining and Quarrying Conference and Expo for the Middle East, Africa, Central Africa and South Asia and ‘ an excellent forum for networking and industrial collaboration’.

On the Governor's team were Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Ahmed Marafa Guni; Chairman, House Committee for Investment, Hon. Umar Mohammed Nurudeen; Chief of Staff, Hon. Mikhail Al-Amin Bmitosahi;l Commissioner for Finance, Hon Ibrahim Balarabe; and Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Hon. Mudi Mohammed.

Others include Managing Director, Zuma Mining Company, Ismaila Ibrahim; Director Mining, Ministry of Minerals Resources, Adamu Garba; and President, Miners Association in Niger State, Obed Kango.