NALCO CMD TK Chand elected as the President of Aluminium Association of India

Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD of Navratna CPSE National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) has been unanimously elected as the President of Aluminium Association of India (AAI) in its National Governing Council Meeting, held in Bhubaneswar yesterday. AAI is the apex body representing the entire spectrum of Indian aluminium industry and is a part of world association. Earlier, the post of President was held by Mr. S.K. Roongta, former Chairman of SAIL and Vedanta Group.

On assuming the post of President, Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand has welcomed the Union Budget 2016-17, presented in the Parliament today, describing it as a balanced budget with focus on growth. “On behalf of all the primary, secondary and downstream aluminium producers, I thank Govt of India for its proposal to increase the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on primary aluminium from 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent and on aluminium products from 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent. This move will help Indian aluminium industry by checking influx of cheap imports,” said Dr. Chand. However, he added that the expectation of aluminium industry was a 5 per cent increase in BCD.

Prof. K.S.S. Murthy, General Secretary of AAI, said that with the election of Dr. Chand as President, AAI will have assertive and affirmative approach in promoting the consumption of aluminium and boosting the growth of aluminium industry. Mr. Satish Pai, Deputy MD, Hindalco, Mr. Abhijit Pati, COO, Vedanta Aluminium and captains of various aluminium industries have also congratulated Dr. Chand.

The AAI announced that the next International Conference on Aluminium (INCAL) shall be organized in Bhubaneswar, wherein all overseas associations will take part. The theme of the event will be ‘Make in India : Aluminium the Strategic Metal’. From Nalco, Mr. N.R. Mohanty, Director (P&T) and Mr. A.K. Murthy, General Manager (Port Facilities) have also been elected as Vice President and Joint Secretary of AAI respectively.