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Registration is now open for the inaugural Simandou Mining Summit, organised by the Government of Guinea. Bringing together governments, investors and industry leaders, the Summit will support delivery of the Simandou 2040 Programme and Guinea's vision of Mining as a Catalyst for Economic Sovereignty.

CONAKRY, Guinea, 06 August 2026

Registration is now open for the inaugural Simandou Mining Summit, organised by the Government of Guinea, inviting governments, investors, mining companies, financial institutions and industrial leaders from around the world to participate in the next chapter of Guinea's economic transformation.

Taking place in Conakry from 11–14 November 2026, the Summit will support implementation of the Simandou 2040 Programme, bringing together the public and private sector leaders responsible for delivering Guinea's long-term development ambitions.

Held under the theme “Mining as a Catalyst for Economic Sovereignty”, the Summit reflects Guinea's ambition to reposition itself from a global exporter of raw materials to a destination for industrialisation, infrastructure development, local value creation and sustainable investment. More than a mining conference, it has been designed to connect policy with investment, bringing together decision-makers who can translate national ambition into long-term partnerships, commercial opportunities and project delivery.

Mining as a Catalyst for Economic Sovereignty

"The Simandou mega-project marks a decisive turning point in the scale and ambition of Guinea’s development, under the leadership of the President of the Republic, H.E. Mamadi Doumbouya,” said Djiba Diakité, Minister-Director of the Cabinet of the Presidency of Guinea and Chair of the Simandou Strategic Committee.

"For decades, Guinea has been recognised for the scale of its mineral resources. Our ambition now is to be recognised for what we build with those resources. As part of the Simandou 2040 Programme, the mining sector will serve as the catalyst for our economic sovereignty, generating quality human capital, services, infrastructure, industries, skilled jobs, and lasting opportunities that will benefit present and future generations of Guineans."

The Simandou 2040 Programme comprises 122 strategic projects across mining, transport, energy, manufacturing, logistics, technology, education, agriculture and workforce development. Together, these projects are intended to strengthen Guinea's economic resilience and create long-term value for its people. At the centre of this transformation is the Simandou project, supported by the TransGuinéen railway and deep-water port infrastructure, creating the foundations for broader industrial development and economic diversification.

From mineral wealth to national value

Guinea is home to some of the world's largest reserves of iron ore and bauxite, alongside significant gold and diamond resources. Through the Simandou 2040 Programme, the Government aims to ensure these resources become the foundation for infrastructure, industrial growth, local enterprise and skilled employment.

"Guinea's resources must serve as the foundation of a diversified, productive and sustainable economy," said Bouna Sylla, Minister of Mines and Geology.

"Our objective is to convert mineral wealth into infrastructure, industrial capacity, jobs, skills and opportunities for Guinean businesses. Guinea is positioning itself as a long-term destination for responsible investment, not simply as a source of raw commodities. The vision of His Excellency Mamadi Doumbouya, President of the Republic, is the in-country transformation of mining products to build greater value chains."

Four days focused on investment and delivery

The four-day programme will combine ministerial dialogue, executive panels, investor forums, technical sessions, project presentations and structured business meetings.

More than 1,000 senior delegates, 75 international speakers and over 3,000 pre-arranged business meetings are expected. The agenda will address industrialisation, infrastructure delivery, global mineral markets, investment and finance, local content, workforce development, downstream processing, technology, innovation, and environmental and social governance (ESG).

The Summit will open on 11 November with an invitation-only ceremony on Kassa Island, a former bauxite mining area undergoing redevelopment, symbolising Guinea’s transition from extraction to rehabilitation and industrial development.

On 12 and 13 November, at the Radisson Blu, the programme will feature ministerial dialogues, executive roundtables, investor forums, technical sessions, project presentations and structured business meetings.

On the final day, delegates will have the opportunity, by invitation only, to visit some of Guinea’s major mining infrastructure assets, including facilities connected to Compagnie du TransGuinéen.

Direct access to Guinea's investment ecosystem

Designed for senior decision-makers across government, industry and finance, the Summit will provide direct access to Guinea's principal public institutions, project developers and major mining operators while showcasing investment opportunities across infrastructure, logistics, energy, construction, manufacturing, services and technology.

"Guinea is open for business," said Namory Camara, Chief Executive Officer of the Guinea Development Board (GDB). "Our priority is to provide investors with greater visibility, stronger institutional support and a clear pathway from initial engagement through to successful project implementation."

Industry supporting Guinea's transformation

The Summit is supported by Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée and Nimba Mining Company, two leading players in Guinea’s mining sector and founding partners of the Simandou Mining Summit. Their involvement reflects a shared commitment to collaboration, responsible development and long-term investment in Guinea.

“The Simandou Mining Summit provides a strategic platform to strengthen investment, industrial partnerships and the responsible development of Guinea’s mining sector,” said Karifa Condé, Managing Director of Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (CBG). “With more than five decades of operational experience and a longstanding presence in the country, CBG is proud to support this initiative, which will help showcase Guinea’s potential and foster partnerships that create value for our economy. We invite investors and industry stakeholders to be part of this momentum.”

“Nimba Mining Company is proud to be a founding partner of the Simandou Mining Summit, an initiative that embodies Guinea's ambition to sustainably transform its natural resources into lasting value for the country,” said Patrice L’Huillier, chief executive officer of Nimba Mining Company (NMC). “As a national mining company, NMC is committed to playing a full role in this momentum by combining operational performance, the development of Guinean skills, stronger local content and preparations for industrial processing. The Summit will provide an essential platform to mobilise the partners, expertise and investment required to deliver transformational projects for Guinea.”

Building international partnerships

The Simandou Mining Summit is delivered by Africa Practice, the strategic advisory firm specialising in Africa, and Fastmarkets, the global price reporting agency and commodity market intelligence provider.

"Africa Practice has worked alongside the Government of Guinea to help translate the ambition of Simandou 2040 into a platform the world can engage with directly," said Marcus Courage, Chief Executive Officer of Africa Practice. "Our role is to connect international investors and industry leaders with the institutions driving Guinea's transformation on the ground — the Summit is where that access becomes action."

Raju Daswani, Chief Executive Officer of Fastmarkets, added: "Fastmarkets is proud to be partnering with the Government of Guinea on this landmark initiative. As the global price reporting agency and commodity market intelligence provider, transparent markets, trusted information and strong international partnerships are essential to attracting long-term investment. The Simandou Mining Summit will provide a forum where governments, investors and industry can build the relationships needed to support Guinea's economic transformation and unlock the full potential of its mineral resources."

ABOUT THE SIMANDOU MINING SUMMIT

The Simandou Mining Summit is an international investment and industry platform focused on the development of Guinea’s mining, infrastructure and industrial economy. Its inaugural edition will take place November 11-14, 2026, in Conakry. Bringing together governments, mining companies, investors, financial institutions, contractors, technology providers and development partners, the summit is designed to facilitate investment, strengthen partnerships and support the implementation of the Simandou 2040 Programme. Its agenda covers mining, infrastructure, industrialization, finance, local content, technology, sustainability and the wider economic opportunities emerging from Guinea’s transformation.

ABOUT AFRICA PRACTICE

Africa Practice is a strategic advisory firm specialising in Africa, helping governments, investors and global organisations navigate the continent's markets and deliver long-term impact. Founded in 2003, the firm works across communications, government relations, research and stakeholder engagement, with a presence in nine hubs across the continent. It has been working in Guinea since 2007. Africa Practice has been a signatory to the UN Global Compact since 2021 and achieved B-Corp certification in 2024.

ABOUT FASTMAKKETS

Fastmarkets is an industry-leading PRA and information provider for the agriculture, forest products, metals, carbon and energy transition commodities markets. Fastmarkets serves its customers with commodity benchmark prices and assessments, forecasts, analytics, insights, news and events. Its data is critical for customers seeking to understand and predict dynamic, sometimes opaque markets, enabling trading and risk management.

Fastmarkets is a global business with a history dating from 1865 and is built on trust and deep market expertise. It has more than 850 employees spread across several global locations including the UK, US, China, Singapore, Brazil, Bulgaria, and Belgium. Fastmarkets is a privately held UK-registered company owned by its shareholders and Astorg, a European private equity firm.