July 2004

Advance Program of the 28th World Steel Industry Conference

Brussels, Belgium— The Thirty-eighth Annual Conference of the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) will take place on October 3 - 6, 2004 in Istanbul, Turkey. The conference will unite more than 300 of the top executives of the world’s leading steel companies as well as representatives of the world’s business and trade press.

The conference opening session on October 4, 2004, will include a welcoming address followed by an address by the chairman of IISI, Mr. Kirby C. Adams, managing director and CEO of BlueScope Steel Limited. IISI secretary general, Ian Christmas, will then present the annual report of the activities of the Institute. This will be followed by an update on the impact of Kyoto Protocol on steel.

Panel Discussion Program:

October 4, 2004 – Is Steel Back on the Financial Community’s Radar?
Steel has moved from destroying shareholder value in the 90s to generating returns closer to its cost of capital. Has the steel industry done enough to attract the interest of the financial community again? What more needs to be done in both communications and performance? Financial analysts and a journalist from the financial press will join the panel of CEOs from steel companies.

October 5, 2004 – The Outlook for Raw Materials
Growth in Chinese steel production and changes in China’s import and export volumes of steelmaking raw materials are a major influence on world markets. This panel will take an overview of the outlook for the world’s raw materials markets. It will look specifically at coke and metallurgical coal where China is the dominant influence. Speakers will address both immediate and longer-term issues.

October 6, 2004 – Developments in China – The Chinese Viewpoint
China continues to be a crucial factor in the steel world today. Chinese companies are key members of the international steel community. Their actions and plans shape the future of the steel industry globally. Complementing the China Panel at IISI-37, this year’s panel will look at the Chinese steel industry from a Chinese viewpoint. Members will be given an insight into current and future developments on a wide range of topics including economic, technological, political, environmental and social issues. A question and answer session will form an integral part of this panel discussion.

The thirty-eighth annual conference closes on October 6, 2004 and will be followed by several optional visits to steelmaking plants in Turkey.