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• The XVI SIMPOSIO, International Mining Meeting, organized by the SNMPE, will bring together government authorities, business leaders, international experts, academics, and investors.
• It will foster a dialogue grounded in technical evidence, a long-term vision, and proposals to strengthen investment, formalization, and governance in the sector.

Lima, May 25, 2026. Tomorrow, May 26, the SIMPOSIO – XVI International Mining Conference begins. This flagship event, organized by the National Society of Mining, Petroleum, and Energy (SNMPE), will take place through May 28 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Lima and will be officially opened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Pareja Ríos. The opening ceremony will feature Diego Ortega, president of the Executive Committee of the XVI SIMPOSIO.

This edition takes place at a pivotal moment for Peru, as the country heads toward the second round of the presidential elections, a new administration, and a period of public policy decisions that will directly impact the formality, investment, competitiveness, and governance of the mining sector. In this context, the XVI SIMPOSIO aims to ensure that debates are grounded in technical information, evidence, and a genuine understanding of the economic, social, and environmental impacts of modern mining.

“The country needs to discuss public policies on mining with seriousness, evidence, and a sense of responsibility. The XVI SIMPOSIO aims to provide a technical and long-term perspective on the role of formal mining as a driver of development, investment, and opportunities for Peru, in an international context that requires more minerals,” said Diego Ortega, president of the Executive Committee of the XVI SIMPOSIO.

Since 1994, the SIMPOSIO has become an established, ongoing forum that brings together government authorities, business leaders, technical experts, academics, investors, and civil society. In its sixteenth edition, this important gathering broadens its focus to address crucial issues such as the energy transition, the growing demand for strategic minerals, technological innovation, sustainability, and institutional frameworks—all of which are key challenges at both the global and national levels.
One of the highlights will be the keynote address by Dambisa Moyo, a global economist specializing in macroeconomics and globalization, who will speak on “A Land of Opportunities: How to Turn Resources into Progress.” Her presentation will offer a global perspective on how resource-rich countries can convert that potential into growth, competitiveness, investment, and sustainable development. Following that, she will participate in a discussion with Diego Macera, director of the Peruvian Institute of Economics (IPE), and Carolina Trivelli, a member of the Fiscal Council of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF).

The event’s agenda also includes key topics such as the global economy, public policy, investment, the electricity system, the energy transition, AI, exploration, financing, sustainability, social management, human rights, and competitiveness. Highlights include panel discussions on global mining, public policy, production and investment, sustainability and the energy transition, electricity reliability, talent and inclusion, technology and innovation, critical minerals, exploration, and financing.

The program will feature prominent international speakers such as Juan Carlos Artigas (World Gold Council), Joaquín Proenza (University of Barcelona), Carlos Batlle (Comillas Pontifical University), Juan Ricardo Ortega (Grupo Energía Bogotá), Thibaut Larrat (McKinsey & Company), Diego Montoya (Google), Paul Mitchell (EY Global), Juan Carlos Guajardo (Plusmining), and Michael Di Rienzo (Silver Institute).

National and regional leaders from the sector will also participate. On the business side, the panel “Global Mining Executives: Strategy, Markets, and Outlook,” moderated by Roque Benavides, chairman of the board of directors of Compañía de Minas Buenaventura, will discuss challenges related to investment and competitiveness. Participants in this session will include Ruben Fernandes (Anglo American), Andrea Vaccari (Freeport McMoRan Inc.), Gong Yu (China Minmetals), Isaac Franklin Unkind (Mining Corporation), and Juan Pablo Garrido (Rio Tinto). The session “Peruvian Mining: Strategies to boost production and investment” will feature local CEOs Víctor Gobitz (Quilla Resources), Raúl Jacob (Southern Peru Copper Corporation), Juan Luis Kruger (Minsur), and Pablo Carvallo (Glencore).

In addition, the XVI SYMPOSIUM will take a multisectoral approach to technology and innovation, featuring Google and representatives from the tourism, agribusiness, and construction sectors, to explore how artificial intelligence and new digital tools can boost productivity, competitiveness, and decision-making across various economic sectors.
Another key session will be “Latin America in the Context of Global Competition for Critical Minerals,” which will address the new geopolitical landscape and the challenges the region faces in attracting investment and positioning itself as a reliable supplier of strategic minerals. This session will feature Paul Mitchell of EY Global and will be moderated by Juan Carlos Guajardo of Plusmining.

On the closing day, Nicolás Zevallos, Director of Public Affairs at the Institute of Criminology and Studies on Violence, will present the study “The Impact of Illegal Economies on Human Rights.” The presentation will analyze the impact of illegal mining and other illicit economies on human rights, governance, security, and the legitimacy of formal productive activities.

The financial session will feature Julio Velarde, president of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru, along with representatives from national and international banks, in a discussion on the financial and macroeconomic conditions necessary to sustain the country’s growth and facilitate new investments.

Within the context of the new political cycle the country is undergoing, the XVI SYMPOSIUM aims to serve as a forum for collaboration to develop a roadmap that can inform the next government’s decision-making, reaffirming the role of the formal mining sector as a strategic partner for Peru’s sustainable development.