The Arab Iron and Steel Union

 The Arab Iron and Steel Union was established in Algeria in 1971 as a first specific Arab Union interested in the development and growth of the Arab iron and steel industry. It is a non-governmental organization of a special entity having no political nature nor commercial character. It  is involved in the field of preparing studies, organizing courses and holding conferences for the sake of the prosperity of the Arab iron and steel industry. It assists its members in their economic, technical and technological progress. The fields of the activity of the Union include the sectors of the extracting and manufacturing iron and steel industries according to the determinants of the standards and classifications internationally recognized and practiced. By its activity the Union aims at realizing the following objectives :

•  Arranging for the co-operation, coordination and integration of the fields of the iron and steel industry in the Arab homeland.

•  Activating and supporting the member companies and organizations  to procure their requirements of raw materials, iron and steel industry products and the other requirements of this industry and marketing and exchanging them within the best conditions.

•  Providing the member companies and organizations with the information and statistical, technical, economic and commercial information in connection with the iron and steel industry.

•  Assisting the member companies in the recruitment field.

• Extending assistance for the development of the vocational  and technical training of the people involved in the iron and steel industry by organizing periodical courses, meetings and conferences.

• Assisting the members in solving their problems  included in its specializations when requested.

•  Conducting arbitration assignments among the members and non-members in the matters included in its specializations when requested.

•  Co-operating with the similar Arab and foreign unions, scientific societies and organizations.

•  Conducting the technical and economic studies for the development of the iron and steel industry separately or under co-operation with other entities.

•  Participating in the standardization and introduction of the technical terms and specifications used in the iron and steel industry and in the indicators governing them.

 At the time of its establishment the Union comprised 13 companies. The number of the member companies has increased and  reached 85 companies.

 Production of the member companies of the Union represents about 90% of the total Arab steel production. The Arab production of crude steel had approached 14 million tons in 2005 and exceeded 19 million tons of finished products. Besides, the base of the member companies has become broad and diversified. The Union comprises a large segment of  multi-activities companies :

• Iron ore and scrap.
• Steel producers.
• End-users.
• Suppliers of the auxiliary materials.
• Distribution companies and steel traders.

 This diversification in the activities of the Union's member companies has imposed enlargement of the scope of the Union's activity as to keep pace with and respond to all activities. This has required the Union to have regional offices in both Cairo and Damascus, and shortly, God will, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in addition to the specialized committees.

 The Union issues the Arab Steel magazine in both Arabic and English. This magazine is the  only one at the Arab level which covers the events of the steel industry. Also the Union issues regular reports which are submitted in the meetings of the Union's Board of Directors and General Assembly. Since 2005 the Union launched its website " www.arabsteel.info " to be the only one in the Arabic language specialized in the steel industry.

 The Union organizes a number of periodical conferences at the level of the steel industry and the allied industries such as the pipes industry. It also organizes annual symposiums and exhibitions on various topics related to the steel industry. All such activities are conducted in implementation of the Union's objectives set out in its Articles of Association.