A new chapter in Guinea's economic future is finally unfolding, as the West African nation sees the world's largest undeveloped high-grade iron-ore deposit, Simandou, come to fruition.

Guinea’s Minister for Planning and International Cooperation, Ismael Nabe, told Africa Down Under the nation was planning to leverage the opportunity presented by that massive iron-ore and infrastructure project for the long-term sustainable development of Guinea through the Simandou 2040 Programme.

The Simandou 2040 Programme is not focused on mining alone, but designed for use as a catalyst for structural economic transformation.

Nabe said Simandou 2040 was much more than an economic programme, it was a comprehensive roadmap that placed the “Guinean people at the heart of government priorities”, aiming for a future built on inclusive prosperity.

He also highlighted Guinea's unique parallels with Australia, in particular Western Australia, humorously noting it might be the "most Australian country in Africa" due to shared strengths in both the mining and agricultural sectors.

“Australia and Guinea share more than investment ties, we share a vision that natural resources, when managed with transparency, innovation and responsibility can transform economies and uplift generations,” Nabe told delegates at the conference in Perth.

“Indeed, Australian companies have been pioneers and trusted partners in Guinea’s mining industry. Beyond capital and expertise … these partnerships go beyond extraction, they build on knowledge and skills, and share prosperity.”  

Simandou 2040 puts mining at the centre of nation-building infrastructure transformation and expansion.

“It’s about building railways that connect regions, ports that open markets, power plants that electrify communities and schools that shape the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.

Nabe said while this project had been almost five decades in the making, the last three years had seen a “great marathon" of collaboration between project partners to make it a reality.

Simandou is a “United Nations project”, with global development partners from China, Australia, America, elsewhere in Asia and locals from Guinea undertaking the $20-billion project.

A groundbreaking commitment will see 25% of Simandou project revenues dedicated to sending young Guineans globally for education, including to Western Australian universities, ensuring a skilled future workforce.