Ever since the Kingdom launched the ‘Vision 2030’ program in 2016, it embarked on a special journey of diversifying its economy away from its dependence on the oil sector.
The Kingdom’s non-oil economy has been thriving since then, with its non-oil GDP rising by 4.2% year-on-year. Among the diversification efforts is the mining economy, which is expected to expand substantially in the coming years.
Bringing Women Into The Fold
Among the many efforts to help bolster the mining economy is establishing its first dedicated Women in Mining Association. Rana Zamai, the Chair of the Women’s Empowerment Committee in Mining at the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, is currently setting the main groundwork for the association.
Zamai made it clear that the new female-led mining association is going to function as an independent, non-profit entity dedicated to empowering Saudi women in the mining sector.
The new association will allow Saudi women to participate in the decision-making process and promote sustainable income opportunities for women in the Kingdom.
A Dive Into The Female Committee Behind The Association
The Women’s Empowerment Committee in Mining is made up of six members, each with years of experience in their designated fields. These include executive management, entrepreneurship in mining with private companies, human resource development, mining supervision, and regulatory systems to prevent violations at remote mining sites.
Seeing as how women are breaking into this field and applying their knowledge and expertise to propel it forward indicates a new future in the Kingdom’s mining industry.