Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Today, the official opening ceremony of the conference, organised by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), was held with the support and participation of the Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

First Deputy Minister of Mining Industry and Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan Feruza Khamidova and President of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) Rocco Detomo welcomed the participants.

The opening ceremony was followed by a ministerial panel focusing on unlocking the potential of critical minerals, exploring new prospective regions, advancing the mineral systems approach, and enhancing the investment readiness of projects.

The panel featured First Deputy Minister Feruza Khamidova, SEG President Rocco Detomo, Vice Minister of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan Iran Sharkhan, and Rector of the University of Geological Sciences Azam Kadirkhodjayev.

GEOMIN 2026 brings together representatives of more than 70 organisations from 26 countries. The programme includes over 100 presentations, 25 technical sessions, contributions from 34 keynote speakers, and three high-level panel discussions.

The first day of the conference also featured an exhibition showcasing mining and geological enterprises as well as international companies, along with a technology demonstration session and a series of technical sessions.

A number of meetings and negotiations were also held with the participation of the leadership of the Ministry and its subordinate organisations, and agreements were signed with international partners.