Asia’s first Zinc College began in Udaipur yesterday, hosted by Hindustan Zinc, India’s largest and one of the world’s largest integrated zinc producer.

About 75 participants from 30 countries around the globe are participating in this Zinc College which is scheduled till 11th September 2014. Akhilesh Joshi, CEO – Hindustan Zinc is the Chairman for Zinc College 2014.

Zinc College is organized by International Zinc Association and involves lectures, working group sessions and a Zinc smelting plant visits. Discussions and debates are organized on zinc production, marketing and sales, applications, LME trading, statistics, communications, environment, health and crop nutrition and sustainable development.

Senior executives from IZA Member companies and consultants from public and private organizations are instructors in Zinc College. Besides lectures and discussions, the Zinc College will also discuss other usages of zinc like ‘Zinc Saves Kids’, ‘Zinc in Fertilizers’ etc. The global industry is looking towards India as a promising emerging market for Zinc and Steel and in view of this Zinc College plays a significant role. The last Zinc College was held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in 2012.

This year Zinc College speakers list include Stephen Wilkinson ( Exec Director – IZA), Dr Frank Goodwin (Global Director- IZA), Claire Hassall (Principal – CHR Metals) , Genevieve Begkoyian ( Chief of Health – UNICEF), Paul White (Director – International Lead Zinc Study Group), Tony Green (Grenvyn Consulting Inc), Mo Ahmadzadeh (INTL FCStone, USA), Graham Wood (Technical Director – AMEC Americas), Marc De Jonghe (Director – Umicore), Marianne Schönnenbeck (Rheinzink), Martin Gagné, IZA Canada), William Marques (Director – IZA Brazil), Ben Cattaneo (Accenture Risk Management), Martin Webb (GM – MMG Ltd), Sander de Leeuw (Commercial Director – Boliden Mineral AB), Luis Eduardo Woolcott (Compañia Minera Milpo) and Berit Wirths (Manager Communications – IZA).

Other eminent speakers in the College from India would be Laxman Shekhawat (Chief Operating Officer – Mines, Hindustan Zinc), Akhilesh Shukla (Head – R&D, Hindustan Zinc), Rahul Sharma (Director India, IZA) and Dr Soumitra Das (Director, Zinc Nutrient Initiative – India, IZA).

A panel discussion for the benefit of participants with senior executives of Hindustan Zinc has also scheduled with Mr. Sunil Duggal, Deputy CEO – Hindustan Zinc and Mr. Amitabh Gupta, CFO – Hindustan Zinc as panel members.