OREANDA-NEWS. October 15, 2009. Swiss based steel trading company Metinvest International SA, part of Metinvest Group, announced the launch of two new branch offices: the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Tunis, Tunisia.

As part of the company’s customer proximity strategy, the offices will promote new steel products, allow better information exchange, reinforce partnerships and expand Metinvest presence in the Gulf and North Africa regions.

The office in Jebel Ali will handle business requirements for United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Viktor Vukusic has been appointed as Dubai Jebel Ali Free Zone Branch Manager, bringing extensive international trading experience. In 2008 Metinvest shipped about 430Kt of billets to Gulf countries, including 255Kt to UAE, 138Kt to Oman, 37Kt to Saudi Arabia.

The liaison office in Tunis is operating under the direction of Mr. Ghazi Maherzi. In 2008 Metinvest shipped about 780Kt of billets, 37 Kt of wire rods, beams and channels and 5 Kt  of plate to North Africa countries. New product range will include rebar of various steel grades, wire rod, angles, channels, I-beams, plate, SAW pipes.

 “The Gulf and North Africa have traditionally been important markets for steel consumption," said Andrey Parkhomchuk, CEO of Metinvest International SA, “For many years Metinvest has established an excellent and very successful partnership with the regions’ companies and we are very confident that our new offices will permit to enhance and foster this partnership”.