Author: Business Enquirer

The mining world awoke in 2025 with a renewed sense of promise. Early indicators show that exploration is surging forward, particularly in gold and base metals, as key performance metrics point upward. While still below its late-2024 highs, the industry seems to be regaining its footing—and maybe even building momentum. Trends That Signal Growth According to data tracked by S&P Global, the Pipeline Activity Index (PAI) climbed 5% in January, reaching a respectable 85—just shy of its October 2024 peak of 98. Notably, gold-related activities posted an impressive 8% gain, while base metals saw 3% growth. Drilling activity also saw…

Vulcan International’s rise from a regional player to a leading global coal company showcases ambition, innovation, and strategic vision, becoming the world’s largest integrated pit-to-port coking coal supplier since acquiring Mozambique’s Moatize Mine in 2022. Under CEO Dr. Mukesh Kumar, the company has expanded production while embedding sustainability and community development at the heart of its operations.

Welcome to the September Edition of Business Enquirer Magazine – Issue 141 As summer fades and we step into autumn, industries worldwide continue to push the boundaries of innovation, resilience, and purposeful leadership. This issue brings together stories of companies and individuals who are not only shaping their sectors today but laying the foundations for a stronger, more sustainable tomorrow. We begin with Milrem Robotics, an Estonian defence company redefining modern warfare through robotics and autonomy. With battle-proven platforms and operations spanning six countries, Milrem is leading the charge in unmanned ground systems. Guided by the expertise of Paul Clayton,…

As Saudi Arabia’s skyline rises rapidly in the wake of Vision 2030, one company is quietly, yet powerfully, reinforcing the nation’s foundations. Riyadh Cement, under the leadership of CEO Shoeil Al-Ayed, is doing far more than producing a construction staple. It is building the materials, strategies and sustainability models that will help define the Kingdom’s future. Founded to meet the demands of a growing capital, Riyadh Cement has evolved into a cornerstone of industrial resilience, market leadership and environmental consciousness. Speaking with Business Enquirer, Al-Ayed and Business Excellence Director Dr Mohammed Fouad offered deep insight into how the company is navigating…

An exclusive with the CEO guiding Europe’s most historic luxury hotel brand into the future. For a company steeped in more than a century of European grandeur, progress can be as delicate as it is essential. Yet Kempinski Hotels, the continent’s oldest luxury hotel group, is embracing transformation with a renewed sense of clarity and confidence under the leadership of Barbara Muckermann, the first woman in its 128-year history to hold the title of Chief Executive Officer. “It took them more than 125 years to hire a woman,” she says, half smiling, half sighing. “But here we are.” Muckermann brings…

Few defence firms have moved as decisively into robotics and autonomy as Milrem Robotics, a company that is proving its ideas on live battlefields while scaling globally. With operations now spanning six countries, a maturing product portfolio, and a growing reputation for delivering battle-proven autonomy, the Estonian-based company has emerged as a genuine frontrunner in the global race to integrate robotics and unmanned systems into land warfare. Milrem Robotics is advancing its strategy by strengthening industrial partnerships that bring together innovation and operational know-how. Supporting this initiative is Director of Industrial Partnerships Paul Clayton. A retired British Army colonel, Clayton…

In the vibrant markets of Ghana, negotiation is as much a cultural art form as it is a practical skill. For Dr. Jennifer Otsiwaba Monny, Supply Chain and Procurement Director at Koa Switzerland and Ghana, it was a skill learned early, watching her mother bargain with dexterity and precision among stalls overflowing with goods in the vibrant markets of Ghana. At the time, she did not know it would shape her career, but those early lessons in weighing quality against value now shape her leadership at a company redefining how procurement can drive social and environmental impact. Jennifer joined Koa…

In a retail landscape increasingly defined by speed, convenience and the dominance of digital platforms, Mantel stands out as a rare example of a company that has managed to combine the intimacy of a family-run business with the operational strength of a major market player. Founded in 1938 as a modest local store, the Dutch cycling retailer has grown into one of Europe’s most recognisable names in its field, without ever losing the values that made it successful in the first place. Those values – trust, reliability, and a long-term relationship with customers, remain at the heart of its approach…

Despite a 26% drop in underlying profit for fiscal year 2025, BHP delivered a dividend beat that sparked a positive market response. The mining giant has shown resilience—and made clear where its confidence lies. The Financials—Strong Payout, Slimmer Bottom Line BHP announced a final dividend of US$0.60 per share, bringing the total annual payout to US$1.10—its highest since 2017 and comfortably above analyst expectations. That results in a 60% payout ratio, signaling commitment to shareholder returns. Meanwhile, overall profit slid to US$10.16 billion, the lowest in five years, driven mainly by weaker iron ore and coal prices The market seemed…

Deep beneath Alaska’s rugged terrain lies a discovery with enormous potential: naturally occurring hydrogen—“geologic hydrogen”—trapped within the state’s distinctive black metamorphic rocks. It may be the ultimate clean-energy game-changer. From Oil Stronghold to Hydrogen Frontier Alaska is long known for its fossil-fuel wealth, but it’s now being recognized for something even cleaner—geologic hydrogen. Unlike hydrogen produced through industrial processes, this form of hydrogen forms naturally over millennia, nestled among specific rock formations—particularly those shaped by tectonic pressures in the state’s subduction zones. Leading the initiative is geologist Mark Myers, former head of the U.S. Geological Survey. He draws inspiration from…