On the 18th of May, in Katowice, the European Economic Congress guests discussed a number of issues relating to metallurgy, motor industry, privatization and power industry. The discussion panels were attended by politicians, among them Janusz Palikot, Paweł Poncyljusz and Beata Szydło, and economists including Elżbieta Chojna – Duch and Jerzy Osiatyński.
The third day of European Economic Congress was filled with debates on transport and infrastructure. Some of the new trends in the motor industry were also discussed, with particular emphasis on e-mobility. The Congress guests talked about early experiences with green cars, possible impacts of the development of electric cars on the power industry and the fuel sector and the technological, logistical, economic and legal barriers. The debates were also attended by Laurent Bresson, Deputy President for Global Sales and Marketing in Europe, Nexteer Automotive and Toru Hashimoto, President of Mitsubishi Motor R&D Europe.
The last day of the Congress also included a discussion on the current situation in world metallurgy and the dynamics of the development of steelyards in Poland and raw materials, such as coke, coking coal, scrap and iron ores. The three sessions on the metallurgical industry were attended by the largest European enterprises in the sector, including Sanjay Samaddar, President of ArcelorMittal Poland.
The privatization panel was opened by Aleksander Grad, Minister of the State Treasury. He presented the objectives of the government’s privatization program and the summary of the government’s achievements to date. The participants in the debate presented their privatization plans for the next few months, and discussed models of property transformation in the light of their own recent experiences.
One of the key moments of today’s program was also a special walk through Katowice. Those who decided to take it visited the Historic Monument of the Nikiszowiec Estate, the Wilson Shaft Gallery, St. Ann’s Church and a branch of the Katowice Historical Museum.
Wednesday sessions took place in the Monopol, Qubus and Angelo Hotels, Silesian Province Office, Biuro-Centrum Building, assembly hall of ING Bank Śląski and Goldsteins Palace
Aleksander Grad, Minister of the State Treasury:
“Introducing Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa (JSW) on the stock market will be a milestone, also for other coal companies; the project is well prepared both in its social and business aspects (…) The way that making JSW public has been prepared in its social and business aspects is maximally profitable for all concerned: the company workforce, the company itself, the State Treasury and the entire economy.”
Sanjay Samaddar, President of ArcelorMittal Poland:
“The metallurgical industry is facing a number of challenges that affect the competitiveness in the sector. The issue of the access to raw materials is essential, because there are fewer and fewer such materials available in Europe, which means that steel will be produced on a larger scale in Asia: in Japan or China. However, the most important challenge we are facing today is climate change. The steel sector must invest in order to meet the growing requirements of environment protection regulations.”
source: press office of EEC 2011