Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the "Mining Armenia Forum 2026," which is being held this year under the theme "From Resources to Opportunities."
In his remarks, the Prime Minister welcomed the gathering of potential partners in the sector, noting that such a format serves as an effective platform for discussing the industry's challenges and opportunities. Nikol Pashinyan observed that this approach is highly valuable from the Government's perspective, and expressed a wish to see other sectors in Armenia adopt this format as well. "This is a transparent dialogue; it is crucial to speak openly about challenges and to identify opportunities," he stated.
The Prime Minister addressed the Memorandum of Understanding signed during the event and the concept behind it, adding that the mining sector and the Government should establish a joint body to serve as a permanent platform for dialogue. "This will add greater value to this format, as there will be a group of people dedicated to professionally examining the sector's issues on a daily basis, from the perspectives of both the industry and the Government," said Nikol Pashinyan, noting that while this field offers significant opportunities, it also presents challenges.
The Prime Minister noted that this year, the forum coincides with the COP17 summit on biodiversity in Armenia. This serves as another opportunity to draw attention to the ongoing discussion regarding the alignment of the mining industry in the country with the highest possible standards. "This issue is also linked to the public perception of the mining industry, which is of great importance. It is evident that the question of environmental standards, both in Armenia and globally, is becoming increasingly relevant, given the well-known global challenges we face," Prime Minister Pashinyan remarked. He added that, more broadly, the planet is confronting complex ecological challenges, and all nations have a responsibility to exert effort in addressing them. In this context, Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that ecological standards rank among the urgent issues that hold significant importance, including for the country’s international and regional reputation. The Prime Minister noted that while steps have been taken in this regard, they are not sufficient.
According to Nikol Pashinyan, one of the key challenges in the mining sector is ensuring that the citizens of Armenia view it as their own. "The subsoil is the property of the people and the state of the Republic of Armenia, while the mining sector acts as the operator—that is, the entity carrying out the technological activities. This involves cooperation between the public, the state, and investors. We have also observed that the more the public considers the sector to be their own, the more positive their perception becomes."
According to the Prime Minister, steps have been taken in this direction in recent years, but they lack an institutional character. "As you know, the Government of the Republic of Armenia holds stakes in several mining companies, but this does not align with the approach we envision. Essentially, we have taken specific, isolated actions in response to particular situations; however, it is crucial to adopt an institutional approach. In my view, an institutional approach, one that would address a number of fundamental issues, is introducing the model of public joint-stock company into the sector. In other words, our strategic vision is for the mining industry to become a pioneer in developing the institutions of public joint-stock companies in Armenia. I am referring to the process of listing companies on stock exchanges."
According to the Prime Minister, this will address a number of issues, including ensuring the transparent operation of companies and compliance with established standards. Furthermore, Nikol Pashinyan noted that public share offerings will enable as many citizens of the Republic of Armenia as possible to become shareholders, thereby fostering a sense of ownership over these businesses. The Prime Minister emphasized that this reflects the Government’s perspective regarding its own equity stakes, and added that the government intends to promote the process of public share offerings in Armenia through its example.
The exploitation of mineral deposits represents a significant opportunity for economic development, and opening a new chapter in geological exploration within Armenia is a task that has become ripe for action. "In the near future, we must review our portfolio, together with our international partners, to identify what additional opportunities exist. And it is clear that such opportunities do indeed exist. It is also clear that, in terms of sheer scale, issues related to metallic mineral deposits are receiving increasing attention; however, the extracting non-metallic minerals is likewise highly urgent. And here, too, we have a need for further research."
In his concluding remarks, Nikol Pashinyan once again welcomed the initiative to organize a discussion in this format, which serves as an excellent example of participatory governance, and thanked the organizers for creating such an opportunity. "I believe that everyone’s goal is development—the development of the economy, of the sector—which, in turn, fosters the advancement of education, science, and, ultimately, the state itself. I would like to thank you all for your contributions to this entire process of state governance."
The "Mining Armenia" Forum is organized by the "Mining Forum" Development Foundation and the Armenian Mining and Metallurgy Association. This year’s forum has brought together around 50 speakers from the mining and related sectors, including representatives from international mining companies and institutions, investors, policymakers, experts in sustainability, technology providers, as well as figures from academia and civil society.
