The last few years have been particularly challenging for the economy, which faces an increasingly slow growth, reducing activity worldwide; however; low interest rates today are an opportunity for governments to renew infrastructure investment and promote the economy of the future, according to an Alacero Latin American Steel Association news release.
Experts and executives of some of the leading steel producers in Latin America will meet at the Latin American Steel Congress Alacero-60 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in November to discuss the challenges and opportunities of this scenario.
One of the main issues under discussion will be the trade deficits of steel between the region and China, which reached more than $30 billion in 2018 and are part of the great challenges to maintain the productive industry and contributor to the development of the region, according to Alacero.
“Given the commercial tensions that we are witnessing throughout the world and its consequences for Latin American industry, the annual congress 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,” the association says. “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 immeasurable value to the community.”
Gross steel production in Latin America fell 5.4 percent from June to July and 15 percent year-on-year. Rolled steel production in July decreased 2.5 percent compared with the previous month, and 2.5 percent compared with July 2018.
On the Latin American Context panel, former Mexican politician Antonio Ortiz-Mena, who is now senior vice president of the Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG), Washington, will present alongside Brazilian political scientist Murillo de Aragão and Argentine economist Rodolfo Santángelo to discuss the next four years. Argentine political scientist and professor at the University of Lisbon Andrés Malamud will moderate.
Malamud will also be the keynote speaker in the Latin American political-economic situation session, 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.
Máximo Vedoya, chief executive officer of Luxembourg-based Ternium, Gustavo Werneck, president and CEO of Sao Paulo, Brazil-based Gerdau, and Jefferson de Paula, CEO of Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal Long Carbon Americas, will discuss the future of the industry throughout Latin America.
Other sessions include Industry 4.0, which will address what’s being done in the industry today, and the the Sustainable Development Goals Agenda session.