Dear metallurgists and miners!

Please, accept my sincere congratulations on your professional holiday – the Day of Metallurgical and Mining Industry Workers!

Metallurgy remains the fundamental, backbone industry of the Ukrainian economy. When the entire country had to go on quarantine, metallurgists and representatives of other continuous-cycle professions selflessly continued to carry out their daily work. Thanks to your work, the scariest expert forecasts about a significant fall in Ukraine's GDP and the collapse of the national economy did not come true. In the first half of the year alone, the industry provided for export earnings to the Ukrainian economy amounting to USD 3.9 billion.

We do admit that it is not an easy time for metallurgists these days. Along with external factors, a number of internal challenges have a negative impact. These include an unjustified tariff pressure from the state transport monopolists, the adoption of some legislative and regulatory acts that significantly worsen the situation for metallurgical companies. Yet, nevertheless, the industry today firmly stands on its feet, and people are its primary support. Miners, metallurgists, machine builders, workers of related professions.

Please, accept my warmest words of gratitude for your dedicated work, for your high professionalism and committment to your profession. I wish health, happiness and well-being to you and your loved ones! May God protect you and your families!

CEO of Smart-Holding,

Member of the Supervisory Board of Metinvest

Alexey Pertin