India joins eight-country World Bank minerals launch with a partnership to mobilise US$5 billion

16 October 2026

Eight countries launched plans with the World Bank Group in Bangkok to turn their mineral resources into jobs and economic growth. The eight are Argentina, Bolivia, Egypt, India, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Mauritania and Zambia. India and Argentina entered partnerships, while Bolivia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Mauritania and Zambia announced compacts; the World Bank Group calls the framework Metals and Minerals Country Compacts and Partnerships. India's partnership aims to mobilise US$5 billion in capital through 2031. Kazakhstan's aims to mobilise up to $20 billion by 2031, Egypt is targeting a 6 per cent minerals contribution to GDP by 2030 and $9.8 billion in metals and minerals-related exports by 2040, and Zambia is targeting annual copper production of 3 million metric tonnes by 2031 under its Grow Zambia Agenda. The World Bank Group said it would increase its metals and minerals support fivefold, to $19 billion between FY26 and FY30. Dr. Neelkanth Mishra, Executive Director of the World Bank Group representing Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka, spoke at the launch.