Tajikistan and South Korea held their first forum on critical minerals in Seoul on 12 August 2026, covering joint geological exploration, mine development, investment, project financing and the creation of sustainable mineral supply chains. The event brought together government bodies, research institutions, financial organisations and private companies from both countries to review practical directions for deeper cooperation in the critical minerals sector.
Tajikistan and South Korea Expand Critical Minerals Cooperation
According to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, the forum included representatives of the ministry, the Executive Office of the President, the Main Department of Geology under the Government of Tajikistan and other relevant state agencies. The South Korean delegation comprised officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, the Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation (KOMIR), the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Korea Eximbank and private companies.
Tajikistan presented its potential in critical minerals, while participants discussed prospects for joint mineral exploration and the development of mineral deposits. Discussions also covered the creation of value-added supply chains, Tajikistan’s industrial strategy and plans for developing critical minerals, the raw material needs of South Korean industries, and financial support for mining projects.
Ahead of the forum, South Korea’s trade ministry noted that Tajikistan holds significant mineral resources including gold, silver and antimony. Seoul aims to combine access to these resources with South Korean technologies for mine development and geological exploration, alongside demand from its industrial sector.
B2B Talks Target Mining Projects and Supply Chains
The final part of the forum was dedicated to direct meetings between Tajik and South Korean companies. The Tajik side was represented in B2B talks by Tilloi Tojik, Pakrut, TALCO Gold, Aprelevka, Kanzi Diyor, Anzob, SKS Tajikistanu Chin, Dastras 2011 and TBEA. These companies held meetings with South Korean counterparts, with discussions focusing on opportunities for direct cooperation, joint projects and attracting investment into mining financing and mineral exploration.
Tungsten Development Adds a Strategic Minerals Focus
A separate session at the forum focused on establishing a Korean-Tajik tungsten supply chain. The topic was presented by the head of GB Innovation (GBI), which is developing the Maikhoura tungsten deposit in Tajikistan together with TALCO. According to company data, Maikhoura contains an estimated 1.92 million tonnes of ore with an average tungsten grade of approximately 0.95 per cent, with planned annual production of around 1,400 tonnes of tungsten concentrate.
GBI’s broader strategy involves combining output from Maikhoura with production from its SsangYong mine in South Korea and developing tungsten processing to supply semiconductor and defence-sector manufacturers.
The forum was preceded by government discussions on 11 August, when Tajikistan’s First Deputy Minister of Industry and New Technologies Isojon Qurbonzoda met South Korean Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Moon Shin Hak in Seoul. According to Yonhap, the two sides discussed expanding cooperation in critical minerals, industry and new technologies. They also considered the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in industry and new technologies. Additionally, the two sides discussed creating a permanent C5+Korea Industry Ministers’ Meeting involving South Korea and the five Central Asian states.