Guinea hosts a two-day mining symposium in its capital Conakry this week in a remarkable step to restore the West African country's industry.

Guinea, the world's top supplier of the aluminium ore bauxite, was relieved of international sanctions this year after the presidential elections held in November 2010 to end a two-year crisis triggered by a military coup.

The symposium organized by the Guinean Ministry of Mines is set for May 10-11 to identify how to manage the country's mineral riches, including problems affecting the Guinean mining sector and ways to bring more benefits to the Guinean people.

The symposium will be presided over by President Alpha Conde and members of his government, and will be attended by 400 experts and other participants.

Guinea is rich in diamonds, gold, iron ore, uranium, aluminium and pectoral, but yet the people of Guinea remains the poorest on the continent.

President Conde is refusing to deliver mining licenses to mining companies until a new mining code is established.

Conde insists that the mining agreements in Guinea now must be a win-win situation with mining companies.