Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries, led a high-level delegation to Dubai, where he formally inaugurated the international offices of two major Indian public sector enterprises, NMDC Limited and MECON Limited yesterday, marking a significant milestone in India’s expanding global industrial presence in the Middle East.
During his visit, the minister also engaged in productive discussions with leading CEOs and Managing Directors of major Indian-origin companies operating in the UAE. The interactions underscored the diplomatic significance of the industrial collaboration initiative, with discussions centred on strengthening industrial cooperation, advancing India-UAE economic ties, and creating new pathways for growth in steel, heavy industries, and strategic investments.
NMDC Limited, formerly National Mineral Development Corporation, is India’s largest iron ore producer and exporter, founded in 1958 as a fully government-owned entity under the Ministry of Steel. The company produces more than 45 million tonnes annually and operates mines in Bailadila, Chhattisgarh, and Donimalai, Karnataka, while maintaining its position as one of India’s most profitable public sector enterprises involved in the exploration of iron ore, rock, gypsum, magnesite, diamond, tin, tungsten, graphite, and coal.
NMDC’s new Dubai office represents a strategic expansion of India’s largest iron ore producer into international markets, designed to unlock new trade partnerships, enhance raw material security, and strengthen India’s self-reliance while boosting global competitiveness in the minerals sector. The Dubai office will serve as a strategic hub for NMDC, actively tracking developments in the mineral sectors across the MENA region, Africa, and Australia, including regulatory changes and government policies. It will focus on scouting mineral assets, conducting technical due diligence, and facilitating engagements with government bodies, business partners, and research institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Amitava Mukherjee, Chairman and Managing Director of NMDC, said, “Dubai represents a gateway to global opportunity. With this new office, NMDC is poised to redefine the mining landscape. With our expansion, we are revolutionising our approach to mineral development, securing India’s position as a leader in the mining industry, and driving innovation in resource utilisation.”
The office will provide real-time market intelligence and timely decision support, enabling NMDC’s leadership to respond swiftly to global opportunities while building a reliable network for confidential insights on peer companies and exploring collaborations in Mining Equipment and Technology Services. As part of its global mineral diversification strategy, NMDC has been actively evaluating acquisition opportunities across 10 strategic mineral assets globally and exploring critical mineral block acquisitions in Africa, Australia and South America to strengthen its presence in the global critical mineral value chain.
MECON Limited, formerly known as Metallurgical & Engineering Consultants India Limited, is a central public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Steel, established in 1959. The company provides design, engineering, and consultancy services for heavy industry including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, oil and gas, power, and infrastructure sectors, offering comprehensive services ranging from project conceptualization to implementation, including consultancy, design and engineering, procurement of plant and equipment, inspection, construction, project management, and turnkey project execution for both greenfield and brownfield industrial projects.
MECON Limited’s Dubai office inauguration follows the same strategic vision, with the engineering consultancy firm poised to expand India’s footprint in infrastructure and industrial consultancy across the Middle East and beyond. The establishment marks a significant step in showcasing India’s engineering expertise on the global stage, particularly in sectors including engineering, oil and gas, mining, and steel manufacturing. MECON is a frontline design, engineering, consultancy and contracting organisation under the Ministry of Steel, rendering the entire gamut of services from concept to commissioning for more than six decades for setting up projects in metals and mining, power, oil and gas, infrastructure and defence and strategic projects.
The inauguration of MECON’s Dubai office represents a significant step forward in the company’s journey towards building global footprints for Indian engineering excellence with the unwavering support of the Ministry of Steel. MECON provides one-stop solutions for engineering projects with a workforce of over 800 engineers and experts from more than 30 different engineering disciplines. The company is positioned to explore mutual opportunities, deliver world-class services and contribute to the region’s growth.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by distinguished dignitaries including Ambassador of India to the UAE Sunjay Sudhir, Consul General of India Dubai Satish Kumar Sivan, Joint Secretary Ministry of Steel Vinod Kumar Tripathi, Chairman and Managing Director of NMDC Amitava Mukherjee, Chairman and Managing Director of SAIL Amarendu Prakash, Director Finance MECON, and other senior representatives from the Ministry of Steel, Embassy of India UAE, and the Indian Consulate in Dubai.
