Plenary Session 1

09:30 – 10:30 / 24 June 2026   Kavaklıdere Ballroom

Strategic Outlook: Türkiye, Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the Caspian region in global mineral supply

Global demand for critical minerals is reshaping geopolitics. This opening plenary sets the strategic vision for the forum, examining how the Middle Corridor — from Central Asia through the South Caucasus and Türkiye — can evolve from a transit route into an integrated industrial belt. Speakers will address the Tethyan Belt's significance, regional mineral endowments, and the policy architecture required to unlock value.

Key themes
  • Critical minerals and great power competition: what it means for the Tethyan Belt.
  • Türkiye’s vision as the gateway to the Middle Corridor mineral economy.
  • Kazakhstan’s mineral wealth in the new geopolitical landscape: multi-vector strategy in practice.
  • Uzbekistan’s $2.6B critical minerals programme: progress, partnerships and priorities for 2026.
  • Kyrgyzstan’s Critical Minerals Drive: Polymetals, Rare Earth Elements, and New Exploration Programs.
  • Tajikistan’s Antimony Leadership: Securing Diversified Global Supply Chains for Critical Minerals
  • The South Caucasus as a mineral bridge: Armenia and Azerbaijan’s evolving roles.