India and Zimbabwe have opened a new formal channel for mining cooperation as critical minerals become central to global trade, industrial policy and clean energy supply chains.
The two countries held the first meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee on Mining and Mineral Resources on Thursday, June 25, 2026, through virtual mode.
The meeting follows the signing of an MoU between India and Zimbabwe on March 16, 2026, covering cooperation in geology, mining and mineral resources.
According to the Embassy of India in Harare, the session marked “a significant step” in strengthening bilateral cooperation in mining, mineral resources and geology.
The Indian delegation was led by Shri Vivek Kumar Bajpai, Joint Secretary in India’s Ministry of Mines. It included India’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Bramha Kumar, and representatives from the National Critical Mineral Mission, the Geological Survey of India, Khanij Bidesh India Ltd and MOIL Limited.
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Zimbabwe’s delegation was led by Dr Thomas Wushe, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development. Senior officials from the ministry, the Zimbabwe Geological Survey and the Mining Promotion Corporation also took part.
The agenda focused on priority areas, investment opportunities, capacity building, human resource skilling and expanding bilateral trade in the mining and minerals sector.
The meeting comes as India accelerates efforts to secure critical minerals used in clean energy, electric mobility, electronics, transport, telecommunications and defence.
India launched its National Critical Mineral Mission in 2025 to strengthen domestic and global supply chains, with the Geological Survey of India expected to undertake 1,200 exploration projects up to 2030-31.
The country has close to 40 minerals, including lithium, gold, platinum group metals, chrome, graphite and diamonds. Mining contributes about 14.5% of GDP and accounts for around 75% of national exports.
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