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Vardan Jhanjanyan, President of the Armenian Mining and Metallurgy Association and First Deputy General Director of Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC), recently attended the annual London Mining Week / Resourcing Tomorrow in London alongside the Armenian government delegation and association partners. This premier international mining forum spans a week of events, including educational sessions, networking opportunities, and meetings with representatives of the world’s leading organizations and governments. The research, analyses, and investments presented at the forum shape global mining priorities and the sector’s future. Armhanq.com spoke with Jhanjanyan about the visit, its outcomes, and the prospects for Armenia.
Why did you travel to London, and what was the purpose of the visit?
“This year marked the first time that the Armenian government delegation participated in the London Mining Week / Resourcing Tomorrow.
The London Mining Week is one of the largest and most important platforms for our region, where the main trends and investment policies of the metals market are shaped. It provides an opportunity for country and company leaders to showcase their mineral potential, reforms, and attract the attention of international investors and sector organizations. The event is also crucial for aligning with international ESG and responsible mining standards and for establishing global partnerships. In this way, Armenia officially presented itself at a globally significant event for the first time.”
How important is government participation in such international forums?
“The presence of senior government officials at such international platforms is extremely important, as it strengthens the country’s representation and credibility in global investment and political circles. Their participation allows Armenia to present its mining strategy, reforms, and investment climate to international partners.
I, along with several of our mining sector colleagues, attended to support the government delegation and represent the sector’s perspective from a business standpoint. International forums highly value when industry representatives participate alongside government officials, as it enhances the quality of sectoral collaboration and demonstrates that the state and industry operate in unison—a fact highly appreciated by the global political and business community.”
Were you able to hold discussions and secure preliminary agreements for future cooperation?
“Yes, Armenia’s participation was very effective. Numerous meetings were held. One of the current global economic focuses is critical metals. The growing demand for critical metals and the redistribution of raw material markets is now a top priority for major powers. For Armenia, this situation presents enormous opportunities to play a key role in these processes, enhancing its role regionally and globally, similar to how Azerbaijan leveraged its oil reserves decades ago to gain strategic advantages.”
What was the focus of your presentations, and what key messages did you share with the global audience?
“I participated in a panel discussion on ‘Central Asia: Opportunities in the Critical Metals Sector.’ I highlighted that the current situation presents a great opportunity for countries rich in metallic resources and discussed the main obstacles, including insufficient geological surveys and exploration, as well as the need to modernize legislation and align it with international best practices.
Our sector is unique and long-term oriented. Rapid demand growth cannot be quickly met; to ensure supply matches demand, countries need established mineral reserves and mining and processing infrastructure. While infrastructure can be developed in a few years, identifying new deposits requires 5–10 years, and explored reserves still need 2–5 years to fully utilize.
What will participation at the government level bring to the Armenian economy? In particular, will it convey seriousness in the sense that the state is ready to listen and support the fund, to support international investment programs?
I want to thank our government colleagues- Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Mr. Khudatyan, Head of the Environmental and Subsoil Inspectorate Mr. Martirosyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Mr. Vardanyan, and Director of the National Geological Fund Mr. Movsisyan- for accepting the invitation and attending.
This high-level participation is unprecedented for Armenia, which previously sent only company-level representatives to such events. For years, Armenia has participated in this event only at the level of various mining organizations, and frankly, having seen delegations from different countries over the past years, complete with numerous high-ranking officials, we longed to see such representation from Armenia.”
What role did the Armenian Mining and Metallurgy Association play in this process?
“The Association participated in an unofficial capacity, with a few representatives from member companies supporting the government delegation. Our primary role is to coordinate and bridge the sector. The Association unites all major companies, consolidates their positions, and presents them to the government and international partners, ensuring that state policy and industry needs align and complement each other. Participation in such high-level events allows us to provide a professional voice, support government colleagues, form partnerships, and foster a favorable investment climate in Armenia. Both international organizations and our government welcome the involvement of sector associations in reforms.”
How would you summarize the visit, and what are the next steps?
“The visit was highly successful and resulted in practical outcomes. For the first time, Armenia was represented on the global stage in a unified and coordinated manner, demonstrating high-level public-private cooperation. This sends a strong signal to the international community that Armenia is ready to develop the mining sector according to modern standards and provide a predictable investment environment.
Next steps include continuing discussions with investors and international organizations, presenting specific programs and reform roadmaps, accelerating mining legislation and geological management reforms, and aligning national geological standards with CRIRSCO reporting standards, which will enhance Armenia’s competitiveness. We will continue attending international forums and are even planning to host a similar international conference in Armenia in 2027—a proposal that has already received preliminary approval from our government partners.”
