THUNDER BAY, ON - August 11, 2008  -  Essar Global Ltd. a multinational corporation now appears to be favouring Thunder Bay to build a new pipe plant as reported in the Soo Star in Sault Ste Marie, on Friday.

This potential investment in Thunder Bay would provide a strong economic boost to the economy, and help diversify our economy.

This type of opportunity is too important to the citizens of Thunder Bay for Council to leave the success of this investment totally in the hands of administration.  If Thunder Bay is to get this Pipe Plant, members of council must invest some political capital to ensure that it happens. 

This Pipe Plant, if it comes to Thunder Bay will help cement our relationship with Western Canada and the Oil patch which should lead to even more new jobs for Thunder Bay and area residents.

Over the past several months there are indications that Thunder Bay is about to see  some positive economic changes. Council is starting to respond to the needs of business that want to create jobs in Thunder Bay. 

Times they-are-a-changing, and the city administration is starting to understand that they can no longer make un realistic demands on business. They are, it appears, beginning to understand that their actions have a large impact on new business coming to Thunder Bay, and on local business wanting to grow or expand.

So who exactly is Essar Global Ltd.?   Public, BOM:500630

In April 2007, Essar Global Ltd, the parent of Essar Steel, India's third largest steelmaker, announced its acquisition of Canada's Algoma Steel for an aggregate value of C$1.8 billion (approximately $US1.58 billion) to be paid in cash. The acquisition gave Essar Steel control of sheet plants that supply North American carmakers like General Motors and Ford.

Essar Steel Holdings Limited is a global producer of steel with a footprint covering India, Canada, USA, Middle East and Asia. It is a fully integrated flat carbon steel manufacturer--from iron ore to ready-to-market products. Its products find wide acceptance in highly discerning consumer sectors, such as automotive, white goods, construction, engineering and shipbuilding. It is India's largest exporter of flat steel products

Essar Global Limited (EGL) is a diversified business corporation with a balanced portfolio of assets straddling the manufacturing and services sectors: Steel, Energy, Power, Communication, Shipping & Logistics, and Construction. EGL, through its six sectoral holding companies, has a firm value of over US $ 50 billion (INR 200,000 crores) and employs 30,000 people worldwide.

With a firm foothold in India, Essar Global has been focusing on global expansion with projects/investments in Canada, USA, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and South East Asia. Among its recent global acquisitions are the Ontario (Canada) based Algoma Steel and US-based companies, Minnesota Steel, as well as Global Vantedge.

EGL has an excellent track record, having succeeded in the capital intensive and competitive manufacturing sectors. Better focus for each business through integration, incorporation of state-of-the-art technology and innovative in-house research has made Essar Global a leading player in each of its businesses states its website.

Essar Steel produces highly customized value added products catering to a wide variety of product segments including roofing, automobiles, oil and gas, shipbuilding, fabrication and white goods where they compete with the best players in the international market. Essar Steel is India's largest exporter of flat products,

selling over one-third of production to the highly demanding US and European markets, and to the growing markets of South East Asia and the Middle East. The company's products conform to the quality specifications of international quality certification  agencies like ABS, API, TUV Rhine Land, Lloyd's to name a few.

The company caters to its small volume customers through an online steel portal, clickforsteel.com. Essar Steel's '24-carat steel' brand is one of the most trusted brands in the steel industry.