Chief Guest for the event Mr. SatishPai, Managing Director – Hindalco Industries, spoke extensively about the non-ferrous metal industry of India, the challenges in the sector and the way forward during the inaugural session of the event.
 

Speaking at the occasion Mr. SatishPai from Hindalco stated, “Growth of the non-ferrous metal industry is important for development of the country. While the ferrous sector gets huge attention, we are trying to build on the perception that non-ferrous metals industry is not much smaller than the ferrous industry. If you look at demand and consumption pattern, non-ferrous metals will see much larger rate of growth.
 

Mr. Pai further mentioned that “from percentage point of view, we are still small but there is where the opportunities lie. India is the fastest growing market. Chinese economy grown double digits for many years but is now showing signs of plateauing and most of major producers are now focusing on Indian market.”
 

“Last two years, the government has given big focus on industry and manufacturing expansion. Due to its application across all major sectors, non-ferrous consumption is on a very high growth path.”
 

“Government initiatives such as Make in India, National Capital Goods Policy, Smart Cities, Solar energy initiatives are going to drive the non-ferrous metal consumption” he mentioned.
 

Hindalco MD Mr. SatishPai further pointed out that though India is very rich in mineral reserves, mining in GDP is only around 1%, which is one of the lowest in the world. H also said that the government has clear policy of getting mining sector and natural resources sector to grow in India to 1.5% of GDP by 2025.
 

Mr. Pai highlighted the need for a level playing field for the sector and also mentioned the challenges in the sector pertaining to land availability and acquisition, cost of capital, power availability and cost of power, logistics and the tax scheme. He mentioned that to Make in India, manufacturing sector needs to grow, which is stuck at 13-14% and has not really been growing.
 

Mr. SatishPai further impressed upon the need for all sectors of the industry – upstream, downstream, recycling and mining – to collaborate among each other for the industry to develop He mentioned that increased collaboration is the only way the industry can survive.
 

Also present during the session were Engr. Salam Sharif, BIR Chairman of Amb. Comm, BMR and President & Chairman of Sharif Metals International, Mr. Justin Roux – Senior Vice President – Luvata Group, Mr. DevangRawal, Executive Vice President & Head – Corporate Finance at Aditya Birla Finance Ltd , Mr. SuneelMardia, CEO – Mtlexs and Mrs. Saloni V. Kothari, COO – Mtlexs.