IDC CEO, Mr. Cornwell Muleya is currently attending the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he participated in a high-level panel discussion on “The Copperbelt: Recognizing Success and Opportunities.” The session brought together senior government leaders from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, alongside global industry partners, to reflect on the Copperbelt’s role in shaping the future of copper and critical minerals.
The panel highlighted the Copperbelt’s position as the second-largest copper-producing region globally, and discussed opportunities to accelerate growth by addressing power and infrastructure constraints, strengthening logistics and regional collaboration, and advancing downstream value addition. The discussion also explored how rising global demand for critical minerals can be leveraged to secure long-term investment, technology transfer, and sustainable development outcomes.
For Zambia, the Forum provides a strategic platform to showcase the country’s pro-investment mining agenda, commitment to industrialisation, and ambition to move beyond raw mineral exports toward value-added manufacturing, job creation, and responsible mining practices. Zambia’s stable investment climate, rich resource endowment, and focus on public–private partnerships position the country as a key player in global copper supply chains and the energy transition
