By Jamie Hyland
The inaugural Panama edition of the Swiss Mining Institute conference, held on April 15–16, 2026, brought together a strong cross-section of the global mining and investment community. Hosted at the beautiful Santa Maria, a Luxury Collection Hotel & Golf Resort, the two-day event marked a significant expansion for SMI, traditionally known for its Zurich conferences, and successfully attracted a diverse international audience of investors from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland and across Latin America.
An excellent opening day panel set the tone for the conference, bringing together leading voices from across the mining and investment space. Otavio Costa, Willem Middelkoop, David Finch, Caroline Donally, Shree Kargutkar and Peter Krauth were joined on stage, with the discussion expertly moderated by Mark Fairbairn. The panel delivered a wide-ranging and insightful discussion on the macroeconomic backdrop shaping the sector, covering key themes including gold, silver, copper, the US dollar and geopolitical dynamics such as Iran. The session was widely regarded as a standout, providing valuable context for investors navigating today’s complex commodity markets.
A total of 46 mining companies presented over the course of the conference, offering investors a broad look at exploration, development and production opportunities across precious and base metals. The presenting companies reflected a healthy mix of junior explorers and emerging producers, many listed on North American exchanges, underscoring the continued importance of Canadian and international capital markets in the mining sector.
The program featured a steady cadence of company presentations throughout both days, highlighting projects spanning gold, silver, copper and critical minerals. Notable presenters included Jaguar Mining Inc., Troilus Mining Corp., New Found Gold Corp. and AbraSilver Resource Corp., among others. Their participation highlighted the depth of opportunity currently being explored across the Americas and beyond.
One of the key themes emerging from the conference was the growing investor appetite for silver and energy transition metals. Presenting companies emphasized the role of these commodities in electrification and renewable energy supply chains, with several projects positioned to benefit from long-term structural demand.
Speaking at the event, Michael Williams, Chairman of Aftermath Silver Ltd., underscored the importance of connecting capital with quality assets. “We’re seeing strong engagement from investors globally, particularly for high-quality silver projects with clear development pathways, including assets like the Berenguela project in Peru, which continues to demonstrate strong potential,” he said, noting the increasing relevance of silver alongside copper and manganese in modern technologies.
Williams’ company, which is advancing projects in Peru and Chile, was among those presenting to a packed audience of institutional and private investors. His remarks reflected a broader sentiment shared across the conference: that well-positioned junior companies continue to offer compelling opportunities despite volatile market conditions.
Overall, the Swiss Mining Institute’s Panama conference delivered a well-curated platform for dialogue between mining companies and the investment community. With strong attendance, a high calibre of presenting companies and meaningful international participation, the event demonstrated its potential to become a key fixture on the global mining investment calendar.
