It is reported that the Arab Iron and Steel Union held the meetings of its board of directors session 97 on November 25th 2008 and the first meeting on the iron and steel industry in Syria on November 26th 2008 under the patronage of Mr Fouad Essa Al Jouni minister of industry of Syria in the presence of the representatives of the iron and steel companies.
Mr Fouad Eass AlJouni said that "The interest of the Syrian industrialists in the iron and steel industry has increased recently, especially in the field of producing reinforcing steel and billets and licenses have been given and inclusion of production rebars has been made for 25 facilities with a production capacity of more than 4 million tonnes per year.”
He has also pointed out that the executed number of these licensed facilitate amounts to 7 facilities with a production capacity of 1.9 million tonnes per year and that the number of the licensed melting mills amounts to 17 projects with a production capacity of up to 3.7 million tonnes per year.
Mr Mohamed Laid Lachgar secretary general of AISU has asserted its endeavor to correct the image of the steel industry which has been held responsible for the negative results arising from the high prices during the last year, which have affected the movement of the construction sector, pointing out that the steel producers have now borne the burdens resulting from the reduction of prices.
Mr Ahmad Ezz chairman of AISU board of directors stressed the important role played by the steel industry in the economic development and in creating job opportunities and large investments. He also called for coordination and co-operation between the steel producers in the Arab countries to face the challenges and get the best conditions and prices and intensifying research and development based on scientific and economic fundamentals to increase dependence as much as possible on the local raw materials and using the production technology in a manner contributing to reducing the production cost.
He also added that the global demand for the iron and steel products in the Arab region is caused by the huge development projects which are now being implemented in the Arab region, which has made the investments of this sector the highest ones among the Arab industry sectors.
Mr Munzer Al Bezra representative of the Syrian Chambers of Commerce ask for laying emphasis on the necessity of reinforcing the competitive capability of the steel industry in Syria and maintaining a return which guarantees its continuation under the high costs of its inputs, calling for effecting integration of this industry at both local and Arab levels and going for producing products which help integrate its productivity and reduce its cost as well as use the advanced technology.
The association has also revealed a positive growth in the crude steel production of the Arab companies which amounted to 13.4 million tonnes during the first 9 months of 2008, against 12.8 million tonnes in 2007. Production of the Arab companies of finished products during the first 9 months of 2008 amounted to 20 million tonnes against 19.2 million tonnes in 2007.
