The 5th International Confernce on Steel and Steel Making Raw Materials

conference in the series to be organised in Goa from 11th to 13th February 2010. Global Steel is an international conference on steel and steel making raw materials, metallurgical coal, coke, iron ore and ferroalloys. The organisers drew inspiration from the vision 2020; in the words of former president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, "The sinews of a Nation are made of Steel. Its per capita consumption determines the development index of its people. Its production and consumption silently communicates the strength and stature of an economy..." Today as the economies around the world in unison are seeing stronger signs of revival from the sharpest recession in living memory, Global Steel 2010 is being organised at an ideal moment in time to provide the steel industry to pause, think and strategise for riding the strengthening growth curve and give raw materials producers the opportunity to contemplate an aligned future. Hence, the theme of this years conference is aptly coined: "Time to steel ahead - Anatomy of an Economy riding the Growth Trajectory"

What muscles and nerves are to human body, iron and steel is to the economy of a nation. India*s economy is largely led by domestic consumption and accordingly it has been less affected by the deceleration in global economic growth when compared to other countries. As a result, Indian steel demand growth remains better than in many countries with significant future potential. The construction industry is expected to rise further due to the government*s stimulus plan; the automotive sector is doing well. Hence, it is expected that domestic steel demand is going to strengthen and experience sustained robust growth for the long term. Global Steel 2010 will help us assess our preparedness for the next boom phase, and chart the forward path in the rapidly changing global economic and political landscape. Can the world manage a rising India with an already buoyant China? The time is just right to strike the iron (or is it steel), while it is hot.

Global Steel 2010 presented jointly by Gujarat NRE and The Economic Times, has thus been timed and structured in such a way that it provides a right platform for the Steel, Iron Ore, Coking Coal, Sponge Iron and Ferro Alloys Industries to conduct business under one roof. The event will create an international meeting point to facilitate information exchange, strategic discussions, networking, forging alliances and to understanding trends in national and international markets.

The international conference would have Ministers, Government officials, doyens of Indian steel industry, captains and experts of global steel and steel making raw materials industry gracing the occasion by their presence and by participating in the discussions. We are pleased to have the Australian industry and mines delegation during the conference being led by the Hon. Minister of Primary Industries, NSW, Australia.