The 2nd National Steel Meeting was held on August 24-25, 2009, with the presence of more than 700 executives, authorities, representatives of the steel industry and the press. During the opening ceremony, the IBS - Brazilian Steel Institute launched its new name and logo. Also during the ceremony, Minister of Mines and Energy Edison Lobão spoke about the importance of overcoming the global crisis and how the steel sector may contribute in this sense.

On the 25, the debate started out with a discussion about international economics and the impacts of the crisis in Brazil, with the presences of IMF Consultant and Columbia University Professor Paulo Vieira da Cunha, Congressman Antonio Palocci, economist and former Minister of Finance Delfim Netto and Ação Empresarial Coordinator Jorge Gerdau, under mediation of journalist Merval Pereira.

The second panel was opened with a presentation by international speaker Farid Abolfathi, from Global Insight, who spoke about the global recovery and perspectives for the forthcoming years. The debate also had the presences of Daniel Novegil, President of the World Steel Association's Economic Committee, of ArcelorMittal Brasil Board Member José Armando de Figueiredo Campos, and of Votorantim Siderurgia Director-Superintendent, Albano Chagas Vieira, as mediator.

The last panel, addressing the challenges for the growth of Brazil's steel industry, was mediated by journalist George Vidor, and counted with the presences of five important names representing the Country's industry: Benjamin Steinbruch, Director-President of CSN; Jackson Schneider, President of ANFAVEA - National Association of Automotive Vehicle Manufacturers; Benjamin Mário Baptista Filho, Director-President of ArcelorMittal Tubarão - Flat Steel; Marco Antônio Castello Branco, Director-President of Usiminas; and Paulo Godoy, President of ABDIB - Brazilian Association of Infrastructure and Base Industries.

The Brazilian Steel Institute would like to thank all those who attended the event and looks forward to seeing them at the Brazilian Steel Congress and ExpoAço 2010.