On behalf of the National Organizing Committee, I am inviting you to participate in the XVI International Conference of the Open and Underwater Mining of Minerals, which will be held from 6 to 10 September 2021 at Astor Garden Hotel, the resort "St. St. Constantine and Elena", Varna, Bulgaria.
    35 years have passed since the first conference on open pit mining of minerals and slope sustainability in the town of Panaguyurishte in 1985,  which is proof of the need to hold this traditional scientific forum. With the inclusion of the thematic area "Underwater mining" the scope of the conference is expanded.
    This forum is a platform for the exchenge of experience and knowledge of experts, scientists and businessmen from around the world, which allows disscussions to be held, presenting innovations, the latest technological developments and production methods in the mining industry and construction. In this context, in addition to discussing scientific and technical issues, the main goal of the conference is to create a basis for new opportunities for the development of science and business.
    We hope that the thematic areas structured by the National Editorial Board will arouse your interest and provoke you for new searches and solutions to the problems.
    We look forward to meeting you at the XVI International Conference of the Open and Underwater Mining of Minerals.