It is a day for the nation to rejoice as Steel Tycoon L N Mittal, the ArcelorMittal CEO has been elected as the Chairman of the World Steel Association, a representative body which includes 180 steel producers all over the world.

The announcement was made on the first day of World Steel Association’s 42nd annual conference in Washington. Mittal who earlier also held the position in its executive committee now has been presented with the most coveted position in the body.

The Director General, Ian Christmas welcomed the new Chairman and the board members. Vice President for the term 2008-09 are Ku-Taek Lee, Chairman and CEO, POSCO, Paolo Rocca, Chairman and CEO, Techint Group . John Surma, chairman and CEO, US Steel. Ku-Taek Lee was the outgoing chairman.

Putting an insight into the changing scenario, the DG said that since the body’s inception in 1967, the global steel industry has undergone an immense change and so is the association who is now proud to have 18 of the world’s 20 largest steel companies, including 6 of the top 10 producers in China. 

World Steel Association was earlier known as International Iron and Steel Institute. The association has also given membership to Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, led by Naveen Jindal as an associate member in less than 2 MT per annum output of steel companies category.