Twenty years of leadership amid evolving global dynamics: ArcelorMittal Executive Chairman
BY TAPASWINI SAHOO
NEW DELHI, JUNE 19 : Ahead of its 20th anniversary on 31 July this year, ArcelorMittal has released a special video message from Executive Chairman Lakshmi Mittal, delivered to attendees at the World Steel Dynamics annual Global Steel Dynamics Forum 2026, held in New York on 15th and 16th June. In the remarks, Mr. Mittal recalled the speech he gave at the event, shortly before the merger of Mittal Steel and Arcelor was agreed.
Reflecting on the past two decades, Mr. Mittal highlighted how the combination created a stronger, more resilient business with the scale, diversification and reach to navigate major global shifts – from the financial crisis to the COVID-19 pandemic to the rise of China’s steel industry. He also set out how industry has evolved, with faster-moving markets, greater technological change and a more complex operating environment than in 2006.
Looking ahead, Mr. Mittal expressed confidence in the long-term outlook for steel, underpinned by demand from emerging markets such as India, infrastructure renewal in developed economies and the energy transition. He also underlined the growing role of domestic industrial policy and the importance of maintaining a strong, competitive steel industry.
Highlights from his message included:
“The last 20 years has been characterized by China’s remarkable growth. Now it is India’s turn, with massive infrastructure expansion, rapid urban housing growth, and energy transition infrastructure all on the cards.”
“If I look back over the 20 years, I genuinely believe that the merger did indeed create a stronger company, benefiting from greater scale, diversification, resilience and strategic reach. Clearly – as is always the way – there have been events we did not anticipate. The aftershocks of the Global Financial Crisis are still with us, and the fallout from COVID has been similarly dramatic. I am adamant though that we navigated these shocks better together than we could have done separately.
“Operating in 2026 is obviously very different to 2006. Today markets move faster, competition is more global, technology changes constantly, and companies are expected to adapt in real time. Even traditional industries like ours operate in a faster, more global, more data-driven, and more environmentally constrained world than they did in 2006.
