The Official Opening of the International Geology-Mining Forum was Held

On October 26, 2023, in Baku, the official opening of the International Geology-Mining - GeoMining Forum dedicated to the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev was held.

The prestigious event, held in partnership with the State Agency for the Use of Mineral Resources of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Geological Exploration Agency, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, AzerGold CJSC, and the General Directorate of Mineral Research & Exploration of Turkey, was attended by about 300 representatives of government institutions, scientific organizations, and local and foreign companies from about 30 countries of the world.

The Forum, arranged to create a cooperation model based on best international practices in geology and mining and demonstrate our country’s potential in the field of mining, started with a video about the merits of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev in the development of the mining sector.

Speaking at the official opening of the Forum, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev first talked about his services in the development of geology and mining in our country. He pointed out that the activity performed in the said fields under the leadership of Mr. President Ilham Aliyev has currently given effective results, and strong measures have been taken for the effective management of our mineral deposits. In general, the Minister said that our country has a great potential for cooperation in mining and noted that our natural resources available in liberated from occupation Karabakh and East Zangazur are of great importance in terms of the socioeconomic development of the region.

Deputy Chairman of the Board of AzerGold CJSC Ogtay Mammadov noted that this internationally prestigious event related to geology and mining is not coincidentally held in Azerbaijan on such a significant date as part of the Year of Heydar Aliyev. He said that the effective results of the political course launched by the National Leader and resolutely continued by Honorable Mr. President Ilham Aliyev are manifested in the sustainable and dynamic development of the mining industry as in all other fields of the country's economy.

It was noted that one of AzerGold CJSC’s strategic goals is to become a global-scale mining company, leading both in Azerbaijan and abroad: "To achieve this goal, developing our international partnership relations and exchanging experience are major drivers. In this sense, the Forum is of great importance for both our country and existing and potential foreign partners."

Chairman of the Committee for Natural Resources, Energy, and Ecology of the Milli Majlis Sadig Gurbanov, Director General of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Ministry of Science and Education Akif Alizada, UN Resident Coordinator Vladanka Andreyeva, UNDP Resident Representative Alessandra Roccasalvo, Chairman of the Turkish Mining and Petroleum Agency Arslan Narin, Head of the State Mining and Technical Research Company of Turkey Vedat Yanık, and the Chairman of the Board of the Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azerkosmos) Samaddin Asadov also spoke at the ceremony about the ecological aspects of geology and mining activity in the modern era and technologies, digital solutions, and innovative approaches implemented in this field. It was noted that this Forum is an important platform for the development of a cooperation model based on the best international practices, protection of the environment from negative impacts, and sustainable development.

Then the Forum started its work. Panel discussions of ‘The role of mining in the international supply chain and prospects for Azerbaijan’, ‘Implementing new technologies and methodologies in geology and mining’, ‘Geo-ecological problems and environmental protection in geology and mining’, and ‘Accountability and investment trends in geology and mining’ were held, and reports of local and foreign experts were heard.

As part of the forum, an exhibition dedicated to the activity of local and foreign mining companies operating in Azerbaijan was also arranged.

It should be noted that arranging bilateral meetings of local and foreign experts, as well as state figures, scientists, and businessmen, is planned as part of the two-day Forum.