The International Mining Investment Conference and Exhibition on Nigeria {IMICON} is a private sector led initiative aimed at propelling the rapid development of the Nigerian mining industry.

IMICON is a modest beginning of what is envisioned to become the hub for companies in the mineral business, policy makers and Governments in the West African sub region. It represents a major contribution towards the private sector led development of the solid mineral sector which is a core strategy of the reform policy of the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration which is in the process of being translated into law by the Federal Parliament.

The mission and vision of the organizers is to have an annual mining event that focuses on the huge mineral resource endowment in Nigeria and the West African sub region and act as a catalyst for further exploration, exploitation and beneficiation of the mineral resources by local and foreign investors. This will enhance the role of contract mining, equipment and service providing companies that are in high demand in this near virgin mineral endowed environment.

The first edition of the conference/exhibition (IMICON 2006) took place in Abuja from 13 to 15 June at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel. This top level event which attracted major stakeholders in the mining industry has been described as the most exciting mining event in Nigeria.

IMICON 2006 brought together under the same roof public and private sector stakeholders in the solid mineral sector as well as local miners and financial institutions ready to do business in the sector. Among the financial institutions represented at the conference were Indemnity Finance Limited and Unique Venture Capital Management Company Limited (owned by a consortium of Nigerian banks) with over a billion dollars fund available for on lending in their portfolio.

Major Exhibitors at the conference were State Government owned investment companies, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, private exploration companies, equipment suppliers and financial institutions. The conference exposed the insatiable thirst for knowledge and new business opportunities in the minerals sector by Nigerians and foreigners alike.

While numerous enquiries and goodwill messages were received from abroad, participants were drawn from local and international companies like Dome Minerals Corporation, a Canadian exploration company as well as several state Governments. Other participants at the conference included representatives of Kano and Ondo State Governments, Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Mining Cadastre office, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), a large number of private companies.