Preparations have begun for Adam Smith Conferences’ 15th Annual CIS METALS SUMMIT, which will take place February 17-19 2010 at the Marriott Grand Hotel in Moscow. Jamsetji Tata, the founder of Tata Steel, which changed the face of India and brought it out of poverty, was inspired by the axiom: “The nation which gains control of iron will soon acquire the control of gold,” which he heard from Thomas Carlyle at a lecture in Manchester in 1867. In modern times gold and steel are of equal value and importance for the successful development of the global economy. In 2010 the event will combine both the CIS Precious Metals Summit (February 17) and the CIS Metals Summit (February 18-19).

Over the years these two conferences have provided a platform for the best speakers – the elite of the metals industry – and extended networking opportunities with senior market professionals from around the world. But this year’s event is of particular significance: CIS metal companies have survived a major global downturn. The main topics of the 2010 summit will be:

• What are the lessons of the global downturn for the CIS metal industry and the ‘great expectations’ in 2010?
• Global protectionism: what is the impact of import restrictions in leading markets on the metals sector?
• The latest wave of mergers, acquisitions and vertical integration: what is the impact of consolidation on profitability and production costs for CIS companies?
• Government development strategies for the CIS precious metals sector
• Currency exchange rates and local currency devaluation: how has it affected the CIS metals market?
• Initiating and conducting negotiations with your creditors. Appraising the willingness of domestic and international banks to restructure debt
• Continuing with and implementing investment projects to raise productivity and efficiency – key case studies
• New exploration strategies of the largest CIS companies.

The event website is at www.adamsmithconferences.com/mr14e1en/s1/MGO004-02853