On October 29–30, Dushanbe hosted the first International Mining and Metallurgy Investment Forum, organized by the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan (MoINT) in collaboration with partners in the mining industry.
Over 300 company executives and investors from the CIS, Americas, Europe, Asia, and Arab nations participated in the forum, which provided a platform for them to share expertise on attracting investments and expanding the mining sector, with a focus on new extraction technologies and investment projects in Tajikistan’s mountainous regions. This marked a milestone as the country’s first major event in mining and metallurgy.
It was highlighted at the opening ceremony that Tajikistan’s mineral resources are substantial enough to support long-term industry development. Approximately 800 deposits of rare and precious metals, including copper, silver, gold, lead, lithium, antimony, nickel, tungsten, and vanadium, have been identified and prepared for exploitation. Currently, more than 50 types of ores are reportedly mined at active sites across the country.
Tajikistan is also rich in metals essential for the "green energy" transition, such as copper, manganese, aluminum, zinc, lithium, graphene, palladium, nickel, platinum, and rare earth metals.
Officials noted that Tajikistan’s geological resources could play a crucial role in economic growth and social support. With over 70 legislative and regulatory incentives, Tajikistan has reportedly created a favorable environment to attract investment, especially in the mining sector.
Meanwhile, Tajik Minister of Industry and New Technologies Sherali Kabir shared with Khovar news agency the significant opportunities in Tajikistan’s mining and metallurgy sector. He pointed out that the global demand for metals like copper, aluminum, lithium, silver, antimony, lead, cobalt, and zinc continues to grow as the green technology sector expands.
According to him, many major global companies today are focusing on Central Asia's natural resources, increasing investments in the region. As the world transitions to a digital and "green" economy, demand for oil products is declining, while rare metals and minerals are increasingly sought after. Tajikistan’s rich deposits position it as a key supplier of these strategic resources.
Sherali Kabir also noted significant deposits of manganese (approximately 270 million tons), lead (1.8 million tons), and zinc (4.7 million tons). With over 100,000 tons of silver reserves, Tajikistan ranks fifth globally.
The country has four major gold belts, 18 promising sites, and 28 identified gold deposits, some of which are actively being developed.
Tajikistan holds reserves of critical minerals and metals vital to industrial needs in China, the EU, and the United States, including copper, aluminum, lithium, graphite, nickel, and rare earth elements. However, as Minister Kabir pointed out, Tajikistan has yet to achieve significant international visibility. He emphasized the opportunity to increase the country’s presence on the global stage.
