Bhubaneswar, 20/01/2018: The prospect of rapid expansion in the Aluminium sector in Odisha, especially in the upcoming Angul Aluminium Park has attracted the attention of the visiting high level delegation team from Italy to set the platform for investment and collaboration with its counterparts in Odisha and India.

The Aluminium Association of India (AAI) held the Indo-Italian Metal Hub seminar in NALCO Nagar, Bhubaneswar, in which Italian team led by the Consul General of Italy, Italian Aluminium Association, CEOs and Senior Executives of different Italian organisations and the Indian team led by NALCO, Govt.of Odisha, businesses and Government agencies and associations of Indian and Italian industry were involved in important deliberations and discussing the way forward to collaborate in the Aluminium sector.

Mr. Damiano Francovigh, Italian Consul General in India stressed on improvement of bilateral relations between India and Italy, saying, ‘’Strengthening economic cooperation between India and Eastern India will go a long way in improving relations between Italy and India. The Indo-Italian Metal Hub seminar titled ‘Aluminium Age’ is also an effort in that direction.’’

Shri Niranjan Pujari, Hon’ble Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Govt.of Odisha, said, ‘’Odisha offers the perfect ecosystem to be the Hub of Aluminium sector and we are committed to forge strong economic tie with Italy. The molten aluminium can be directly obtained from NALCO when the Angul Aluminium Park becomes operational.’’

The seminar was preceded by a site visit to proposed Angul Aluminium Park on 19th Jan 2018.

Shri Sanjeev Chopra, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary-cum- Principal Secretary to the Govt. Of Odisha and Chief Speaker at the seminar also strongly pitched the upcoming Angul Aluminium Park, saying, ‘’This visit by the Italian delegation team has come at a very opportune time as the future looks bright for investors looking at investing in the aluminium sector in Odisha. The potential for collaboration is immense. The response to the Angul Aluminium Park is unprecedented and will become a major centre in the world for aluminium downstream activities. The Park will rival the best in the world and NALCO will be there to provide concessions and hand-holding support to organisations.’’

Mr. S.K.Dash, Executive Director, NALCO, added, ‘’We welcome the visiting delegation team from Italy and are ready to walk the extra mile to make Angul Aluminium Park an attractive investment destination for businesses.’’

The Seminar is expected to pave the way for discussion amongst important players, businesses, State Government and Government agencies, and associations of Indian and Italian industry in the engineering, metals and transportation sectors. The Indo-Italian Metal HUB tour is a programme aimed at decision makers in the industrial sector in India, Italy and Europe.

The Italian delegation was represented by HE Damiano Francovigh, Italian Consul General in India, Mr Maurizio Sala, President, Amafond, Ms. Francesca Bruni, President, Art Valley, among other dignitaries, while the Indian team was led by Mr. Pratap Aditya Mishra, Additional Director General, Aluminium Association of India officials, senior officials from NALCO, Mr. Kamal Prakash, Director, Jiwanram Sheoduttrai Group, and other businesses and Govt. Officials.