Aluminium major Vedanta sees great business collaboration between India and Italy

“In Italy, aluminium consumption has increased by twelve times in the last twenty years. We need expertise on metals and we think that your country can offer a lot of skills and technologies.” Maurizio Sala is delighted to hear the words of Harssha Shetty, Indian Manager from Mumbai, the head of marketing at the multinational company Vedanta.

Vedanta is an industrial giant, one of the largest aluminium producers, with 2.7 million tons/year, led by Anil Agarwal, an intelligent tycoon inspired by Indian traditions.

He is so faithful to these traditions that he devoted the group's name to one of the sacred books of the Hindu religion. He is also very proud of creating an outstanding charitable foundation that helps many disadvantaged people.

Maurizio Sala is an entrepreneur, but is also the chairman of Confindustria Amafond, which is the Italian Association of companies that produce machinery, plants, furnaces, products and services for the foundry industry. Working in this capacity Mr. Sala is even more pleased when he hears Harssha Shetty’s remark that worldwide “the next generation will use 18 million tons of aluminium, of which only half comes from recycling.”

Vedanta is the leading integrated aluminum producer in India, but also one of the largest in the world with a capacity that will shortly exceed 3 million tons per year. Vedanta’s first-time participation in the historical trade fair Metef – the Expo that was held in Verona at the end of June 2017, dedicated to the aluminium production and supply chain and to innovations in the metal industry – was one of the turning points of this twenty-year event.

"India is close to us," said Mr. Sala, also encouraged by the fact that the closing data of the event is very clear in pointing out the positive trend: these data showed 400 exhibitors of which 35% were foreign, 11,000 visitors of which 40% were from abroad, indicating strong growth over 2014, and in general a great deal of satisfaction among the participants.

The important presence of Russian, Indian and Middle-Eastern metal producers should also be emphasized. However, we had many Indian business operators: Indian guests increased by 300%, perhaps the most significant and most interesting fact for the SEMEA region, where Metef is the market leader.

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In Italy, Vedanta comes to explore various opportunities for strategic partnership. "We are ready to offer them," says Maurizio Sala, and he continues: "Our interactions with the subcontinent, with its terrific historical traditions in metals, are becoming impressive. It is no coincidence that the largest Italian metallurgical plant, in Taranto, now belongs to the Indian group Mittal. Another giant in steel, Jindal, has now approached Italy. In regards to aluminium, the dance is just starting now.”