With representatives from small- and medium-sized companies in attendance, Ternium Siderar held the eighth breakfast specifically for this group, and discussed complications of the crisis affecting the industrial sector.

The eighth periodic "Pymes" breakfast, bringing together small- and medium-sized businesses that have relationships with Ternium Siderar, included the participation of Daniel Novegil as well as 100 representatives from the sector. At the meeting, the economist Javier Gonzalez Frago gave a description of the current economic scene in Argentina and expectations for the remainder of the year.

Ternium CEO Daniel Novegil began with an overview of the global steel industry, commenting on the recent World Steel Association’s projection of global steel consumption falling 15% in the year 2009 with respect to the previous year. He indicated that 80% of the manufacturers imports of industrial origin entering Argentina from China belong to the metallurgical sector. “The danger of the flow of high value added products from China, as well as Brazil, directly affects the target markets of companies participating in the ProPymes program, and consequently is an indicator we must follow with much attention,” concluded Novegil.

The economist Javier Gonzalez Fraga provided a description of the current economic scene and in it referred to the need for an industrial, agricultural industrial and commercial return to reality for small- and medium-sized companies. On the other hand, Fraga commented the exchange rate behavior and the resulting problems from the energy crisis, despite improvement, remain a great obstacle. In his conclusion, the economist mentioned the necessity of open doors to external financing.

Martín Berardi, Ternium’s South Area Manager announced that the meetings would take place more often and urged the representatives in attendance “to seek opportunities within the sectors to meet and find ideas to help throughout the crisis.” He presented the progress on the Contingency Plan designed to adjust the company to the current reality, and then gave details on the projects through the rest of the year that are related to the small- to medium-sized businesses (ProPymes) program.