Block 1 Central Asia – Mobilising Investment while Managing the Risks in Critical Minerals Supply Chains: An Ambitious Agenda
Apr 28, 2026 | 3:10 PM - 4:10 PM
Tunel-Taksim
Description
Central Asia and the Eastern Partnership – Mobilising investment while managing the risks in critical minerals supply chains: an ambitious agenda (Tunnel-Taksim merged room, Odakule)
The countries of Central Asia and the Eastern Partnership hold vast yet under-utilised critical minerals reserves, offering significant potential for investments in countries such as Armenia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. As governments modernise geological data, strengthen legal frameworks and signal openness to foreign investors, opportunities for responsible and high-quality critical minerals’ value-chain development are expanding. Building on the recent OECD work on the development of critical minerals in Ukraine and Central Asia, in particular, this panel will explore how the region can attract such investment while addressing key governance, fiscal and environmental risks.
Moderator: Mr. William Tompson, Head of Division, Eurasia, Global Relations and Cooperation Directorate, OECD
• H.E. Mr. Akyl Toktobaev, Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, Kyrgyz Republic
• Mr. Asatur Vardanyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Armenia
• Mr. Al-Farabi Ydyryshev, General Director of the National Center for Technological Forecasting, Ministry of Industry and Construction, Kazakhstan
• Mr. Krzysztof Galos, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Climate and Environment Poland
• Mr. Han Ilhan, Advisor to the Chairman of the Board, Uzbekistan Technological Metals Complex
• Mr. Mark Robinson, Executive Director, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
