The Mining Armenia Forum 2025 opened on Friday in the resort town of Tsaghkadzor, bringing together government officials, industry leaders, and experts to discuss opportunities and challenges facing Armenia’s mining sector.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, delivering opening remarks, underscored the importance of transparency, professionalism, and education in the industry. He acknowledged the sector’s negative public perception and emphasized the need to rebuild trust.
“We must recognize that the subsoil belongs to the people and the state, and it is essential for citizens to feel this is true,” Pashinyan stated. Highlighting state participation in the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine and the Amulsar mine, he noted that these projects symbolize shared national ownership.
According to Pashinyan, the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine paid 148% more in taxes between 2018 and 2025 compared with the previous seven years. “What matters is not only the revenue growth for the state budget, but the fact that these funds translate into roads, schools, kindergartens, and security,” he said.
The Prime Minister also stressed Armenia’s efforts to align its mining practices with leading international environmental standards, particularly as the country prepares to host the COP17 Biodiversity Conference in 2026. “Changing traditions is not easy, but care for the environment is a priority,” he said.
He further emphasized mining as a knowledge-based industry requiring highly qualified professionals across multiple fields, noting its role in driving education, business development, and career opportunities for Armenians. “The more we raise our standards, the more highly skilled professionals we will produce,” he added.
