Including Kwon, the CEOs of major steel companies such as Wolfgang Eder (chairman of the World Steel Association and voestalpine AG), John Ferriola (vice chairman of the World Steel Association and president of Nucor Corporation), Lakshmi Mittal (chairman of ArcelorMittal), Mario Longhi (president of the United States Steel Corporation), Kosei Shindo (president of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation) and Yu Yong (chairman of the Hesteel Group) participated and discussed key pending issues facing the steel industry in an Executive Committee meeting on October 10.

Members of the Executive Committee posing for a photo on October 10. From left to right: André Gerdau Johannpeter (CEO of Gerdau Group), Wolfgang Eder (chairman of voestalpine AG), Ohjoon Kwon (CEO of POSCO), Lakshmi Mittal (chairman of ArcelorMittal), Paolo Rocca (chairman of Techint Group), Eiji Hayashida (president of JFE Holdings), Heinrich Hiesinger (chairman of ThyssenKrupp), Yu Yong (chairman of the Hesteel Group), Mario Longhi (president of the United States Steel Corporation), Kosei Shindo (president of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal), John Ferriola (president of Nucor Corporation) and Sajjan Jindal (chairman of JSW Steel).

On the second day of the meeting, October 11, movers and shakers of the world steel industry held long discussions on the sustainable development of the steel industry in three breakout sessions. CEO Kwon presided over one particular session which went over steel’s roadmap for the future via new technology, and engaged in a spirited discussion with around 50 representatives from different steel companies.

Aside from these discussions, the World Steel Association held an annual conference, a BOD meeting and a general meeting to share issues of mutual interest and approve key matters, such as its business plan and the 2017 budget.

The World Steel Association, established in 1967, is the most authoritative organization in the steel sector, focusing on activities to increase people’s awareness of the steel industry and its interests. The association began with 18 member firms from 11 countries. At present, the organization is made up of 170 members, ranging from steel companies, relevant associations and research centers. Brussels, Belgium is home to the headquarters of the World Steel Association.

The association’s BOD consists of steel producers that have an annual capacity of over 2 million tons. At the moment, the BOD has 73 companies of approximately 30 nations as regular members. The Executive Committee is the top decision-making body of the organization, deciding the direction of major business projects such as the steady growth of steel, steel’s role in the environment and the market development of steel. The committee consists of 15 members whose terms each last three years.

The 2017 annual general meeting of the World Steel Association is scheduled to be held at its headquarters in Brussels, in memory of its 50th anniversary.

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Prior to the conference, an executive committee was held on October 11. Interested parties from major companies in the steel industry including CEO Ohjoon Kwon; Wolfgang Eder, CEO of voestalpine and President of World Steel Association; Eiji Hayashida, CEO of JFE Steel; Mario Longhi, CEO of United States Steel; and Lakshmi Mittal, CEO of ArcelorMittal attended the committee. In the afternoon, a discussion on the outlook of the manufacturing industry was conducted by Mario Longhi.

At the annual conference on the following day, CEOs of steelmakers from around the world, as well as a number of interested parties, presented and discussed major issues faced by the steel industry, like energy and the environment, in addition to the short-term outlook for the global economy. After presenting the prospects of the economy and steel industry, CEO Kwon participated in the regional CEO discussion as a panel, sharing his diverse opinions.

Later on in the day, CEO Think Tank—a session in which attendees can freely choose and discuss a range of topics—was held so the executives could share their mutual interests related to the steel industry.

On the final day of the conference, the World Steel Association conducted a board meeting to approve major resolutions.

Established in 1967, the World Steel Association, or worldsteel, is the international organization of the highest authority in the steel industry. The association aims to promote steel and the steel industry to consumers, the industry, media and the general public. Founded with 18 members in 11 countries, the World Steel Association now represents approximately 170 steel producers, national and regional steel industry associations, and steel research institutes. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, worldsteel members represent around 85 percent of world steel production.

CEO Kwon plans to meet with the Korea-U.S. Business Council which will convene on October 15 in Washington DC, USA, to discuss how to improve economic cooperation between the two countries.