A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in Dushanbe between Tajikistan’s Ministry of Industry and New Technologies and South Korean company GB Innovation (GBI) to establish a joint tungsten supply chain — a strategically important mineral for high-tech industries. The document provides for the joint development of the Maikhura tungsten deposit and the creation of a full production cycle, from raw material extraction to finished products. The signing took place during the Dushanbe Investment Forum, in a ceremony overseen by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.
Minister of Industry and New Technologies Sherali Kabir stated that the Maikhura project would become a model of mutually beneficial cooperation, promoting Tajikistan’s industrialization and strengthening economic ties with South Korea. Under the agreement, GB Innovation and the state-owned company TALCO plan to reach an annual output of 4,000 tons of tungsten concentrate within three to four years. The concentrate will be processed locally into tungsten oxide and tungsten carbide for use in domestic industries.
Tungsten is a key component in high-tech sectors such as semiconductor production, defense, rechargeable batteries, automotive manufacturing, and aerospace. Establishing a stable tungsten supply chain is of strategic importance to South Korea, which aims to secure self-sufficiency in this critical mineral. The Maikhura mine stands out for its high tungsten content—1.0%, five times the global average of 0.2%. Combined with production from South Korea’s Uljin Ssangjeon mine, the total output will reach about 5,000 tons per year, nearly covering South Korea’s annual domestic demand of 3,400 tons.
GB Innovation President Kim Young-woo emphasized the importance of stable supply chains for strategic minerals and expressed readiness to expand cooperation to other resources, including rare earth elements and lithium. Minister Kabir highlighted that the Maikhura project represents a key step toward Tajikistan’s industrialization and the establishment of sustainable supply chains for strategic resources.
Investment Commissioner Rahim Joda announced that the government would provide over 200 investment and tax incentives to ensure the project’s success. The initiative aims to build a full-cycle local value chain—from mining to processing and production—within Central Asia, enhancing competitiveness and ensuring supply stability in the global market.
Tajikistan currently accounts for around 20% of global antimony production and possesses significant reserves of rare earth elements and lithium, solidifying its role as an emerging resource hub in Central Asia.
