Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan

On June 17, within the framework of the 5th Tashkent International Investment Forum, coordinated by the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade, a major panel session was held on the topic “Critical Minerals and Resource Diplomacy: Responsible Supply Chain Security,” dedicated to one of the most strategic and pressing issues in the global economy.

This important strategic dialogue platform brought together the following international experts and industry leaders:

Han ILHAN - Co-Founder and Managing Director/Catalis Strategies USA, Moderator and Speaker

John Jovanovic - President & Chairman, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Keynote speaker

Feruza Xamidova - First Deputy Minister of Mining Industry and Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Keynote speaker

Mark Robinson - Executive Director, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Speaker

Andrei Navitski - Managing Director and Partner, BCG, Speaker

Sarah Whitten - Chief Commercial Officer, EXIM Bank, Speaker

Gregory Lecomte - Head of Central Asia Unit, OECD, Speaker

Yermolai Solzhenitsyn - Senior Partner, Global Metals Leader, McKinsey & Company, Speaker

Adam Podgorski - Director, Co-founder, TASCA Pte. Ltd., Speaker

The discussion placed particular emphasis on the role of critical minerals in the transformation of the global economy and in ensuring the resilience of international supply chains. 

In his remarks, John Jovanovic, President and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, noted that critical minerals are becoming the foundation of sustainable economic development and technological progress.

“Regardless of political views or economic approaches, there is one thing on which everyone agrees: critical raw materials and supply chain security are the foundation of future development. Critical minerals are the building blocks of modern technologies, industry, and global economic growth,” said Jovanovic.

He also emphasized that Uzbekistan has significant potential to develop high value-added production and strengthen its position in global critical mineral supply chains.

Key indicators and strategic priorities for the development of the critical minerals sector were presented at the session by Feruza Khamidova, First Deputy Minister of Mining Industry and Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan, highlighting the country’s strong resource potential and the importance of expanding processing capacities.

“The geological exploration coverage of Uzbekistan stands at around 40%, while the value of its mineral resource base is estimated at more than USD 3 trillion. More than 100 investment projects are currently being implemented in the country, with a total value exceeding USD 2 billion, covering 25 types of critical minerals,” she stated.

It was further emphasized that Uzbekistan is open to international cooperation and is interested in expanding partnerships with foreign investors, including joint projects in geological exploration, mineral processing, and the implementation of advanced technologies.

During the session, participants also discussed practical approaches to developing international partnerships in the field of critical minerals, including improving data transparency, strengthening the regulatory framework, and adopting international standards. Particular attention was given to reducing investment and operational risks, as well as expanding insurance mechanisms and co-financing instruments aimed at accelerating the implementation of capital-intensive mining projects.

The dialogue served as an important practical platform for building reliable raw material supply chains between international investors and states.