Steel minister opens NMDC's int'l conference on minerals & metals

New Delhi: Chaudhary Birender Singh, Minister of Steel, on Tuesday said, "Mines and Mineral sector is the backbone of the country and propels the economic growth. Through forward and backward linkages it is one of the largest creators of employment in the country." He was addressing the inaugural session of 'International Conference on Minerals and Metals – Outlook 2030', at New Delhi, hosted by NMDC.

The Minister expressed that, "the sector has a huge potential to drive growth in the global environment and he is looking forward to the recommendations of the conference for policy formulation."He added that "the conference is well timed and in sync with the Government of India's vision set in the National Steel Policy – 2030. It will help in exchange of information and expertise across the sector."

The two day conference has over 500 participants from 16 countries, and 30+ international speakers, and would create a platform for existing and potential metal producers and miners, both domestic and international, for discussing, planning, and establishing mutually beneficial relationships.

Speaking on the occasion, N Baijendra Kumar, IAS, Chairman-Cum-Managing Director, NMDC Ltd said "International Conference on Minerals and Metals is an excellent platform for the metal producers and miners locally & internationally. The objective of NMDC conceptualizing the conference is that being an important player in the industry, NMDC wants to leverage the existing knowledge base for the benefits of all the industry stakeholders. Along with placing India as one of the important cogs in the international mining and minerals eco-system, the conference will also help in the building new partnerships and trade relationships with different countries".

The conference also has a dedicated Global CEO Session and Country Panel Discussion, engaging top CEOs and country heads of national and international organizations, deliberating on the future of minerals and metals worldwide. The event aims to achieve an understanding of the global commodities market for minerals and metals, highlighting the inter-linkage between mineral development and economic growth, the developments in the international metals market that can impact the Indian metals industry and identifying opportunities in Indian mining and metals.

Addressing the inaugural session N Baijendra Kumar, IAS, Chairman-Cum-Managing Director, NMDC, said that, "this International Conference would not only put focus back on various aspects of the Mineral and Metal sector but will help to channelize all the stakeholders in achieving targets set in India's National Steel Policy - 2030. The sector has a huge potential which is yet to be tapped fully and can create 6 million additional jobs by 2025. This conference will aid in charting a roadmap for mining and metals industry."