Bhubaneswar: Union minister for mines Narendra Singh Tomar, union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Odisha Skill Development Authority chairman Subroto Bagchi graced the concluding ceremony of the 3-day International Conference on Aluminium(INCAL), organised by Aluminium Association of India(AAI) here on Saturday.
Tomar assured the AAI that the his ministry is committed to the development of the aluminium sector and will look into the recommendations that come out of INCAL 2019. He said that policy interventions like amendment of the MMDR Act in 2015 to allot mines through auction, National Mineral Exploration Policy and permission for 100% FDI in automatic route for mining and exporation of metal and non-metal has enhanced private investment and FDI inflows to the sector significantly.
Union petroleum minister said that Odisha, with more than 50% of bauxite reserves of the country is turning out to be the Aluminium Capital of India.’’ Shri Pradhan also pitched Odisha as a powerhouse for readily available low-cost mineral resources and manpower.
OSDA chariman Subroto Bagchi also addressed the gathering.
AAI chairman and Nalco CMD Dr. T. K Chand summed up the proceedings of the 3-day Meet and hoped that INCAL 2019 will provide a roadmap for the aluminium industry.
Besides other industry stalwarts, technologists, policy-makers, Dr. Allais Bernard, Director-Technology, ALCAN and Mr. Olaf Freier, Event Director, Reed Exhibition, Deutshland, Gmbh, were also present on the occasion.