Experts and executives of some of the leading steel producers in Latin America will meet at the Latin American Steel Conference, Alacero-60, which will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina this November. In a press release, Alacero said conference panels will discuss the challenges and opportunities of increasingly slow growth, reducing activity worldwide, and low interest rates, which are an opportunity for governments to renew infrastructure investments and promote the economy of the future.
One of the main issues under discussion will be the trade deficits of steel between the Latin America and China, which have reached more than US$30 billion in 2018, according to information from Alacero, and which are part of the great challenges to maintain the productive industry and the contribution to the development of the region.
“In July 2019, only some of the Latin American countries showed an improvement in GDP prospects, although deficit projections continue to be updated in most major economies. It indicates how much can and should be done for the development of the region as a whole. Given the commercial tensions that we are witnessing throughout the world and its consequences for the Latin American industry, the annual Conference of Alacero is not only timely but also fundamental to discuss the future of the generations that will have to face the impacts on job creation and modernization of our economy. We will be in Buenos Aires to discuss possible scenarios and the latest projections about the benefits of steel and how its recyclability can offer an immeasurable value to the community,” said Francisco Leal, General Director of Alacero.
Crude steel production in Latin America fell 5.4 percent from June to July and 15 percent year-on-year, Alacero said. Rolled steel production in July decreased 2.5 percent compared to the previous month, and 2.5 percent compared to July 2018.
To discuss the perspectives of the sector throughout the region, strategic issues will be addressed during the event panels, such as the situation of the global steel industry, the projections for the next four years, the consolidation of industry 4.0 and sustainable development.
In the panel Latin American Context - The Agenda for the next 4 years, former Mexican politician, Antonio Ortiz-Mena, who is now senior vice president of the Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG), will be next to the Brazilian political scientist, Murillo de Aragão, and the Argentine economist, Rodolfo Santángelo to discuss the matter, under the moderation of the Argentine political scientist and professor at the University of Lisbon, Andrés Malamud.
Malamud will also be the keynote speaker in: Latin American political-economic situation, where he will analyze how Latin American countries should position themselves and what role they play in the challenging context that is presented for the entire region at this time.
At another time, industry leaders point out the best solutions for the region. Ternium CEOs, Máximo Vedoya; from Gerdau, Gustavo Werneck; and ArcelorMittal Long Carbon Americas, Jefferson de Paula, will be with the president of the Argentine Steel Chamber and CEO of Ternium Argentina, Martín Berardi, to discuss the future of the industry throughout Latin America.
The topic of Industry 4.0 - What is being done in the industry, the debate will be attended by Roberto Demidchuk, CIO of Ternium; Gustavo França, CIO and CDO of Gerdau; Paula Harraca, Director of Personnel, Communication, Social Investment and Innovation at ArcelorMittal Aceros Largos LATAM; having Sergio Kaufman, CEO of Accenture Argentina, as a moderator.
In addition to these panels, the discussion will be held: The contribution of the sector to the Sustainable Development Goals Agenda (SDG) 2030 with Sebastián Bigorito, Executive Director of the Argentine Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEADS) and with the Corporate Co-Products Manager and Sustainability of Usiminas, Henrique Hélcio Eleto dos Santos. The two will present how diversity, safety and labor relations throughout the value chain are aligned with the SDGs, and are essential to promote the sustainability of the steel industry worldwide, especially in Latin America.