Melbourne, 11 Safar,1439 AH, 31 October,2017 , SPA -- Australian Treasurer Tim Pallas opened here today the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC), hosted by the Victorian Government of Australia. The ceremony was attended by Undersecretary of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Sultan bin Jamal Shawli , Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Arabian Mining Company "Maadin", Eng. Khalid Almudaifer, Saudi Charge d'Affaires to Australia, the Plenipotentiary Minister Mishaal Al-Ruqi, Australian ambassador to the Kingdom Ralph King, a number of mining ministers, and heads and representatives of international mining companies from Australia and the world. At the opening ceremony, Eng. Almudaifer delivered the Kingdom's speech on behalf of Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Eng. Khalid Al-Falih. He spoke about the great investment opportunities offered by the Saudi mining sector and the rapid growth witnessed by this sector in the Kingdom. He reviewed the stages of construction and investment witnessed by the mining sector in the Kingdom, affirming the remarkable level of the mineral industry in the world. He stressed the Kingdom's bilateral partnerships with many countries interested in the mining sector, stressing that the Australian companies and other countries are welcomed to invest in the Saudi mining sector. On the sidelines of the conference, the exhibition of the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources was opened. At the end of the ceremony, gifts and memorial shields were exchanged between the Australian Minister and the Saudi delegation participating in the conference. --SPA 23:11 LOCAL TIME 20:11 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w525175