By As the race for critical minerals intensifies amid the global clean energy transition, strategic control over supply chains is becoming a defining factor of economic and geopolitical power. Among the investors shaping this evolving landscape is Italian billionaire Raffaello Follieri, whose focus has increasingly turned toward Asia and the Middle East.
With rare earth elements playing a vital role in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, advanced electronics, and defence technologies, Follieri has been strengthening his presence in regions central to future industrial growth. Over the past year, his initiatives have expanded across key Asian markets, including India, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, where demand for ethically sourced and reliable mineral supply continues to accelerate.
Industry experts note that Asia’s role as a manufacturing and innovation hub particularly in semiconductors and electric mobility has made it a strategic priority for long-term mineral partnerships. Follieri’s engagements in the region signal a deliberate effort to align upstream mineral sourcing with downstream industrial demand, while maintaining a focus on sustainability and transparent procurement.
At the same time, the Middle East’s economic diversification drive, led by countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, has opened new pathways for integrating mineral logistics with clean energy infrastructure. Analysts point to the convergence of rare earth supply chains, hydrogen development, and next-generation energy projects as a potential catalyst for regional manufacturing ecosystems.
Follieri’s strategy reflects a broader transformation in global resource markets where private capital is no longer limited to extraction alone, but increasingly influences how strategic materials are transported, processed, and deployed across borders in support of long-term decarbonisation goals.
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