This Is How to Get International Partners for Your Local Business

For many local businesses in mining economies, securing international partners can be the difference between remaining small-scale and unlocking sustainable growth. From exploration to export, global partnerships bring capital, technology, market access, and credibility. One of the most effective platforms for building these relationships in Africa is Mining Indaba, where investors, miners, financiers, service providers, and governments converge around the entire mining value chain.

Whilst advertising in Trade publications like Mining Zimbabwe gives you exposure, more needs to be done to convince potential partners of your Investability.

This article outlines practical, end-to-end strategies for attracting international partners across every stage of the mining value chain, using Mining Indaba as a central reference point.

1. Start With Credibility: Fix the Fundamentals at Home

Before approaching international partners, your local business must be structurally credible. Global players conduct rapid but rigorous screening.

Key foundations include:

Legal compliance (valid licences, permits, and registrations)
Transparent ownership and governance
Audited or well-documented financials
Clear operational focus (what you do and where you fit in the value chain)

At Mining Indaba, most serious discussions begin with one question: “Are you compliant and investable?”

If the answer is unclear, conversations end quickly.

2. Understand Where You Fit in the Mining Value Chain

International partners do not invest in “mining” broadly—they invest in specific value-chain segments. Knowing exactly where your business fits allows you to target the right partners.

Full Mining Value Chain Overview

Exploration
Project Development
Mine Construction
Mining Operations
Processing & Beneficiation
Logistics & Transport
Trading & Offtake
Financing & Insurance
Technology & Digital Solutions
Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Services
Mine Closure & Rehabilitation

At Mining Indaba, each of these segments attracts different international players, from junior explorers and EPC firms to global traders, OEMs, banks, and ESG funds.

3. Exploration & Resource Development: Partnering for Risk Capital

Local exploration companies often lack funding for drilling, resource definition, and studies.

What international partners look for:

Geological data (even early-stage)
Valid exploration titles
Clear target commodities
Jurisdictional understanding

Who to engage at Mining Indaba:

Junior mining companies
Private equity funds
Geological consultancies
Strategic investors from Canada, Australia, and Europe

How to attract them:

Prepare a concise technical summary
Be realistic about valuation
Be open to joint ventures rather than outright funding

4. Mine Development & Construction: Attracting EPC and Strategic Investors

As projects move toward development, international partners become more operational.

Potential partners include:

EPC and EPCM contractors
Equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
Strategic mine developers
Development finance institutions (DFIs)

At Mining Indaba, these players actively seek:

Bankable feasibility studies
Clear permitting timelines
Government support or stability assurances

Local companies that position themselves as on-the-ground execution partners often secure long-term roles even without owning the mine.

5. Mining Operations: Operations, Contract Mining & Services

International operators often prefer local partners for:

Contract mining
Labour supply
Maintenance
Security
Camp management

To attract partners:

Demonstrate operational experience
Show safety and compliance systems
Highlight cost advantages and local knowledge

Mining Indaba is particularly valuable for service providers looking to become preferred local partners to global miners entering African markets.

6. Processing, Beneficiation & Value Addition

With Africa pushing for in-country beneficiation, international technology providers are actively seeking local partners.

Opportunities include:

Processing plant construction
Modular plants
Smelting and refining
Battery minerals beneficiation

International partners look for:

Feedstock security
Power solutions
Policy alignment

Local businesses that can aggregate ore or provide infrastructure access are especially attractive.

7. Logistics, Transport & Export Infrastructure

Mining does not work without logistics.

Global partners seek:

Reliable haulage firms
Rail and port access facilitators
Warehousing and bonded storage operators

At Mining Indaba, logistics companies frequently partner with:

Traders
Large miners
Export credit agencies

Local logistics firms that demonstrate compliance, scale, and cross-border capability gain strong interest.

8. Trading, Offtake & Global Markets

One of the fastest ways to secure international partners is through offtake agreements.

International traders want:

Consistent supply
Traceability
ESG compliance
Transparent pricing mechanisms

Mining Indaba hosts:

Global metal traders
Battery manufacturers
Refineries and smelters

For local miners, even small-scale producers, these relationships can unlock pre-financing, price stability, and guaranteed markets.

9. Financing, Insurance & Risk Mitigation

International capital is risk-sensitive.

Partners include:

Commercial banks
Development banks
Export credit agencies
Political risk insurers
Commodity streaming companies

To engage successfully:

Present realistic funding needs
Show risk mitigation strategies
Align with ESG expectations

Mining Indaba is one of the few platforms where finance, mining, and government sit in the same room, enabling faster deal structuring.

10. Technology, Digitalisation & Innovation

Mining is increasingly tech-driven.

Opportunities for partnerships include:

Mine automation
Data analytics
Exploration software
ESG monitoring tools
Safety and productivity systems

Local tech firms that attend Mining Indaba often secure pilots, distribution agreements, or regional partnerships with global providers seeking African market entry.

11. ESG, Community Development & Sustainability

International partners now prioritise ESG as much as geology.

They look for local partners in:

Environmental monitoring
Community engagement
Rehabilitation
Carbon management
Social impact programmes

Mining Indaba places strong emphasis on sustainable mining, making it a key gateway for ESG-focused partnerships.

12. Mine Closure, Rehabilitation & Post-Mining Economies

Even at the end of the value chain, opportunities exist.

International firms seek local partners for:

Rehabilitation projects
Environmental restoration
Post-mining land use
Renewable energy repurposing

Local businesses with environmental and agricultural expertise are increasingly relevant.

13. How to Use Mining Indaba Strategically

To convert Mining Indaba into real partnerships:

Book meetings in advance
Have clear value propositions
Avoid vague pitches
Follow up aggressively after the event
Position yourself as a long-term partner, not just a vendor

Mining Indaba is not about signing deals on the spot—it is about starting relationships that mature into partnerships.

In Conclusion: Think Value Chain, Not Just Mining

International partners do not come looking for “miners” alone—they look for ecosystems.

Local businesses that understand their role in the full mining value chain, present themselves professionally, and engage platforms like Mining Indaba with strategy and clarity, dramatically improve their chances of attracting global partners.

In today’s mining economy, success is no longer just about what is in the ground—it is about who you partner with, how you position yourself, and where you show up.