Special Sessions

Date: 

16-17 April, 2026

Location: 

Orléans, France

Title of the session: 

Critical Minerals Dynamics: Trade, Value Chains and Recovery 

Chair of the session: 

Chahir Zaki (University of Orléans)

Objective:

This session highlighted how the rising strategic importance of critical minerals is reshaping trade agreements, value chains, and policy coordination, with new evidence linking mineral endowments to deeper and more complex trade deals. It also underscored growing supply risks and the potential of circular solutions—such as recovering vanadium from industrial waste—to enhance resilience while navigating technological, environmental, and economic constraints.

List of papers:

• “Mineral Magnetism: How Critical Minerals Shape Trade Deals?” Markos Farag (University of Cologne) and Chahir Zaki (University of Orléans) 

• “Risks associated to the supply of mineral resources along the value chains” Gaetan Lefebvre (BRGM)

•  “Recovery Potential of Vanadium from Steelmaking Slags in Europe” Basile Guth (BRGM), Audrey Philippe (BRGM), Daniel Monfort (BRGM)

Date: 

April 27-29, 2025

Location: 

Cairo, Egypt

Title of the session: 

Global Value Chains and Sustainable Development

Chair of the session: 

Chahir Zaki (University of Orléans)

Objective: 

The objective of this session is to examine an important and policy relevant issue for the MENA region, which Global Value Chains from a sustainable development perspective. To do so, we plan to present three papers that address the Sustainable Development Goals in different ways. First, from an industrial and macroeconomic perspective (SDG9), the first paper examines the role of undervaluation in promoting GVC. Second, in line with SDG7 and SDG13, the second paper analyzes the impact of environmental stringency on firms’ participation in GVCs. Finally, in line with SDG16, the third paper examines how political connections affect GVC participation using firm level data.

List of papers:

•  “On the Nexus Between Global Value Chains Participation, Exchange Rate Dynamics, Digitalization and Quality of Institutions: Evidence from Emerging Economies”, Ibrahim ElBadawi (ERF), Mariz Abdou (Clermont Auvergne University), Patrick Plane (Clermont Auvergne University) and Chahir Zaki (University of Orléans).

• “Environmental Stringency and Firms’ Participation in Global Value Chains: Evidence for MENA countries”, Nada Hazem (University of Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne) and Chahir Zaki (University of Orléans).

• “Are Global Value Chains for Sale?” On Business-State Relations in the MENA Region” Nora Aboushady (Cairo University and German Institute for Sustainability and Development) and Chahir Zaki (University of Orléans).

Date: 

September 9-11, 2025

Location: 

Rome, Italy

Title of the session: 

Trade, FDI and the environment

Chair of the session: 

Chahir Zaki (University of Orléans)

Objective:

This session was organized by the Chair of Environmental and Mineral Economics (CEME). This session focuses on the nexus between trade, energy transition and the environment from different perspectives.

List of papers:

• “Environmental Regulation and FDI: Mergers and Acquisitions versus Greenfield Investment" Anna Cuadros (University Jaume I)

• “Unpacking France’s Emissions Paradox: The Role of FDI, Inma Martíne Zarzoso (University of Jaume I) and Enea Gerard (University of Bordeaux)

• “Does “Going Green” Promote Global Value Chains Integration?” Mariam Fayek (Paris School of Economics) and Chahir Zaki (University of Orléans)

Date: 

February 11-12, 2026

Location: 

Trento, Italy

Title of the session: 

"On the Geoeconomics and Geopolitics of Critical Minerals in Turbulent Times"

Chair of the session: 

Chahir Zaki (University of Orléans)

Theme:

Critical minerals have become central to global stability in turbulent times. As nations accelerate the transition to clean energy, demand for lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements is surging, intensifying competition for secure and sustainable supply chains. Geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, and environmental concerns amplify vulnerabilities, making access to these resources a strategic priority. Countries are diversifying suppliers, investing in recycling technologies, and promoting responsible mining to reduce dependency and risk. In this volatile landscape, collaboration and innovation are essential to ensure that critical minerals support economic resilience, energy security, and technological progress. This balance requires policy and cooperation. The objective of this session is thus to examine this important and policy relevant issue namely critical minerals in turbulent and uncertain times.

List of papers

• “Opening critical raw materials mines under uncertainty” by Mouez Fodha (Paris School of Economics), Aude Pommeret (Université Savoie Mont Blanc, IREGE and OFCE) and Francesco Ricci (University of Montpellier CEE-M).

• “Mineral Magnetism: How Critical Minerals Shape Trade Deals?” Markos Farag (Chair of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne) and Chahir Zaki (Laboratoire d’Economie d’Orléans and University of Orléans).

• “Can strategic dependencies harm the acceleration towards net-zero transition? The case of the lithium-ion battery industry Francesco Crespi (Roma Tre University), Nicolò Geri (Sapienza University of Rome), Dario Guarascio (Sapienza University of Rome), and Enrico Marvasi (Roma Tre University)