Argentina’s key mining exhibition concluded with unprecedented participation from companies, provinces, and international delegations. The value chain, financing, and technology were the most discussed topics during three days of high-level activity.
By Panorama Minero
With over 500 participating companies, 18,880 visitors, and more than 25,000 square meters of exhibition space, Arminera 2025 closed its largest edition to date. Organized by the Argentine Chamber of Mining Companies (CAEM) and Messe Frankfurt Argentina, the event highlighted the growing institutional, business, and political interest in the mining sector.
Held at La Rural in Buenos Aires, the exhibition featured representatives from 12 Argentine provinces involved in mining or supply chains, delegations from 17 countries, and nine provincial governors. Federal participation was one of the most significant and deliberate aspects of the event.
CAEM President Roberto Cacciola summarized it this way: “This was the most federal Arminera to date. It reflected the moment the sector is going through: full of expectations, but also with concrete progress.”
Fernando Gorbarán, President of Messe Frankfurt Argentina, emphasized Arminera’s growing role as “a regional platform to showcase developments, share agendas with other countries, and attract investment.”
Value chain and business matchmaking: focus on suppliers and operations
One of the most active areas was the Supplier Development Round, where more than 3,700 business meetings took place between mining operators and service and equipment providers. The number doubled that of the previous edition, reflecting strong interest in strengthening Argentina’s industrial base—especially in a context where import substitution and operational efficiency are gaining relevance.
The roundtables functioned as a meeting point between operating projects, those in early development stages, and a growing network of technical, logistical, and industrial suppliers.
Investment, technology, and sustainability: the key themes
Across more than 100 sessions held over three days, several key themes emerged: the need for financing, the role of new technologies, and sustainability as a structural factor in the sector’s long-term viability. These issues cut across all discussions, from provincial governors to international organizations.
The Arminera 2025 Summit began with a presentation of mining agendas from the provinces. During the “Arminera Federal” session, officials from various jurisdictions shared data on investment, employment, and production, along with local strategies to attract capital.
The opening ceremony featured governors from Río Negro, Santa Cruz, Mendoza, Salta, Jujuy, Santa Fe, San Juan, and Catamarca, who discussed the evolution of mining projects and the institutional challenges in each province.
In another high-level panel, ambassadors from Canada, France, Switzerland, and Peru shared international experiences in mining development and reflected on Argentina’s potential role in the global supply of critical minerals.
Innovation and technological shift: AI and traceability in the spotlight
The event also showcased concrete technological advances with operational impact. One highlight was a session organized by UIA and Accenture on Artificial Intelligence in Mining, which featured examples of automation, remote monitoring, and predictive data analysis.
Simultaneously, the Seminar for Prospectors and Developers addressed new financing tools for exploration and early-stage project development. While macroeconomic limitations were acknowledged, the discussions also explored public-private partnerships and international funding opportunities.
Sustainability and regulation: from EITI to biodiversity management
Sustainability had its own space through a three-part panel. The first, led by EITI Argentina, presented the latest transparency report on the extractive industries. A second session focused on national standards for sustainable mining, and the final block showcased the results of the first biodiversity management competition, where companies presented practical cases of environmental integration in operations.
Additionally, the 4th International Congress of the Argentine Institute of Mining Law (IADEM) brought together legal experts from Argentina and the region. Topics included regulatory frameworks for investment, mining contracts, and legal perspectives on how Argentina can attract capital through greater legal certainty.
International meetings and regional outlook
Several side events focused on regional integration. Among them was the Mining and Sustainability Forum of the Americas, organized by CAMMA, IGF, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Held under the slogan “Explore more, extract better”, the forum explored how to responsibly scale up the supply of metals in response to growing global demand.
The IDEA-CAEM Business Experience also took place, offering a space for dialogue between business leaders and policymakers around regulatory frameworks, infrastructure challenges, and workforce needs for an expanding mining industry.
In another panel, WIM Argentina and Poliarquía Consultores presented the findings of a national survey on educational and gender gaps in the mining sector. The study included data on public perception, female participation, and training needs in areas like lithium and copper development.
A space with a technical focus
Outside the main halls, the Machinery Plaza offered a closer look at cutting-edge equipment for high-altitude operations, autonomous transport, drilling systems, and energy efficiency technologies. The area attracted engineers, technicians, and operators interested in evaluating equipment and potential suppliers.
General overview
Beyond record attendance, Arminera 2025 provided a clear snapshot of Argentina’s current mining landscape: a sector experiencing growth, but still facing structural challenges in logistics, financing, and workforce development. The strong provincial presence, international interest, and technical depth of the discussions marked a turning point compared to previous editions.
Looking ahead, organizers confirmed the next edition—Arminera 2027—which will carry the challenge of sustaining growth, improving infrastructure, and cementing mining as a key pillar of Argentina’s productive development.
