With the new hybrid format of the Business Summit on 28 and 29 September, ALUMINIUM, GDA and the CRU Group are pulling together to help the industry constructively tackle the biggest challenges: the future of mobility, digitisation, sustainability and the future rules of the international market. GDA Managing Director Marius Baader explains why you should be there in September.
ALUMINIUM: Mr Baader, what can participants expect at the Aluminium Business Summit?
Marius Baader: The Summit is a top-class congress that promotes dialogue between the industry and its customers, suppliers and also its critics. Aluminium is the material of the future, but on the way there we have to continuously improve.
What does "improve" mean in concrete terms?
We have to ask ourselves: What can we already do today? Where do we seek even closer cooperation with our industrial partners? What political framework conditions in Germany and Europe do we need for this? To this end, we have invited our partners to the Summit, on stage, in front of it and behind it. Together fit for a climate-neutral future - that is the purpose.
What criteria did you use to put together the programme?
The aluminium industry is an important partner for many sectors in Europe and the world. And each of these industries has its individual challenges, but some apply to all of them. Decarbonisation, technical transformations, increased requirements for recycling processes are highly relevant topics. These were at the forefront of the conference programme. Not only in the keynotes and panels, but also with the audience. We have tried to create a forum in one and a half days that gives these issues the necessary space. And beyond that, it also enables discussion among the decision-makers.
The Aluminium Business Summit is a hybrid event - on-site in Düsseldorf and digital. Why is it worthwhile to be there live on site?
The big questions for the future of our industry can only be tackled together in a personal exchange. But that has not been possible for quite some time now. The Aluminium Business Summit offers a first opportunity to get back into dialogue, across the entire value chain.
What are you most looking forward to?
Personally, I am very much looking forward to being able to talk face to face again, to taking part in the discussion and - to be honest - also to a joint evening event again.
ALUMINIUM Business Summit
28 – 29 September 2021
Altes Stahlwerk, Düsseldorf
Photo: Marius Baader, Managin Director of Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie e.V. (GDA)