Poland offers to share expertise in exploration of copper, silver and coking coal technology with Indian companies 

A meeting was held between Union Minister of Steel & Mines Shri Narendra Singh Tomar and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Prof. Piotr Glinski in Mumbai on 15.2.16. The meeting was attended by delegates from both sides. It may be noted that Poland has sent a high-level delegation of 50 members led by the Deputy Prime Minister to participate in Make-in-India Week programme at Mumbai.

The meeting began with Shri Tomar welcoming the visiting dignitaries to India.

Deputy Prime Minister, Poland Prof. Glinski expressed keen interest in mutual collaboration in the area of mining and mineral exploration. Polish companies, like KGHM, have expertise in exploration of copper and silver which can be shared with Indian companies, he added. Prof. Glinski also offered knowledge exchange in the area of coking coal manufacturing and skill development. It was informed that Poland is a world leader in Coking coal production and is second largest exporter of coking coal in the world. He shared plans of setting up a state-of-the-art coking coal plant of 2.7 million tonne annual capacity in India.

Shri Tomar spoke about the initiatives taken by the government of India for attracting investors to the country. He gave an overview of the mining and exploration sector in the India and the recent developments in this area. The Minister informed about policy measures like amendment in MMDR Act, National Mineral Exploration Trust and proposed National Mineral Policy, which encourage participation of international private companies also in the Mining & Exploration Sector. He exhorted the Poland delegation to explore avenues for investment and collaboration in mining, exploration, Make in India, Clean India and other special drives being undertaken by the government of India. He assured of all possible support from the government in realizing the true potential of bilateral relations between the two countries. He appreciated the proposal of Poland side for an MOU for cooperation in the field of geology and mineral resources between the two countries and assured that once the draft MOU is received from Poland side, the Indian side will give it due consideration.. Shri Tomar appreciated the fact that Poland has started a “Go India” initiative to support “Make in India” and had joined the observance of International Yoga Day enthusiastically. Shri Tomar also welcomed the proposal of Poland side to set up a 2.7 million tonnes per annum capacity coke oven plant in India and assured of full co-operation.

The two countries also agreed to cooperate in the area of clean coal technology. Both sides agreed to further the discussion in forthcoming Kolkata Mining Exhibition, where Poland is planning to participate.

From Indian side, the meeting was also attended by Indian Ambassador to Poland, Joint Secretaries from Ministry of Steel and Ministry of Mines, CMD MECL, CMD MECON, DG GSI and Directors from SAIL and NMDC.