Lakshmi N. Mittal, chairman and CEO of ArcelorMittal, was today awarded with a Doctor Honoris Causa by the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Poland. The honorary degree is the university’s recognition of Mr Mittal’s contribution to the development of both the Polish and global steel industry. It also reflects the history of cooperation between the university and ArcelorMittal.
Speaking at the ceremony, Lakshmi N. Mittal said: “The Academy is extremely important for the entire steel sector”. Referring to the difficult economic situation in the steel market, he highlighted the importance of the Polish plants within ArcelorMittal, saying: “Krakow is now home to Europe’s most modern hot rolling mill, built in 2007 with an investment of 1.2 billion zloty (…). Not only do we have the most advanced hot rolling mill in Europe; we also have modern installations at each stage of production.
Today ArcelorMittal Poland is the largest steel producer in the country, concentrating around 70 per cent of Polish steel market capacity, as well as the largest coke producer in Europe with a coke plant located in Zdzieszowice.”
Representatives of the university emphasised during the ceremony that the achievements of Mr Mittal in the scope of the development of steelmaking worldwide deserve special recognition. Within 30 years, Mr Mittal created the world’s largest steel company – ArcelorMittal. Since the privatisation of Polskie Huty Stali in 2004, ArcelorMittal investments in new technologies in Polish steel plants have exceeded PLN 4.5B.
