Dear Reader,

We are forwarding to you a preliminary programme and a registration form for participation at the METEX 2004, VI Eurasian Forum of the Metallurgical and Mining Industry, which will be held in London, Great Britain from 11th to 17th October 2004. METEX is probably the best practical and important annual international forum in the field of metallurgical and mining industries of the Eurasian area countries. Over two hundred business leaders and experts in the metallurgical field from dozens of countries gather under the METEX umbrella each year. The event is held in parallel with the London Metal Exchange's Week with joint events and participation of LME experts.

Forum's topics are dictated by the latest developments in metallurgical and mining industry, the sessions of the forum consist of two main parts - Analysing of the situation and Planning the Future. Following the planned expansion of the European Union special attention is given to the new political and economic realities, perspectives and practical solutions for the companies of the Eurasian region, as well as global changes in the metallurgical industry and trade, including after-effects of the EU expansion, implications of WTO directives, changes in tariff and tax policies. The main discussions will focus on the following topics:

	Main trends and risks of the Eurasian metallurgical and mining industry (including specialist overview of the market of ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, precious metals, social responsibility and ecological risks for the enterprises of mining and metallurgical industry), as well as the changes in the investment attractiveness of the Eurasian metallurgical and related companies
	Global and European developments in brokerage operations and metal trade, new logistic solutions
	Optimization of financing metal companies - New and innovative methods of metal project financing, factoring solutions
	Development perspectives of the mining and metallurgical complex for suppliers and users of metal products
	Financial challenges and contemporary legal challenges for Eurasian metal companies
	Current market challenges for Eurasian companies of the mining and metallurgical complex, as well as suppliers and users of metal products

The METEX week also includes:

	Workshop and roundtable discussion on examples of changes in the business for Eurasian companies of the metal industry - real situations and possible solutions
	Workshop and roundtable discussions (separate discussions on ferrous and non-ferrous metals, aluminum and base metals, transportation and tariffs).
	Metal risk and hedging workshop with the special attention to metal trading systems.
	Field visit - Modern British metal industry: implementation of new techniques.

In addition to the interactive plenary session, where questions and answers assist in establishing a dialogue with the speakers of the Forum, the METEX week also includes workshops and roundtable discussions with individual themes (ferrous and non-ferrous metals, aluminum, nickel, copper; precious metals, tariffs and transportation aspects, logistics) and on the topics of: investments into metallurgical and mining industry - realistic situations and possible solutions; risk and hedging in the area of mining and metallurgical complex, for suppliers and users of metal products. As practice demonstrates, roundtable discussions greatly facilitate emergence of original solutions, development of interesting and content-rich exchange of opinions and establishment of long-term communications and co-operation. Besides that the programme includes technical visits with a theme of: Modern British metallurgical and machine building industry - implementation of new technologies.

A unique feature of METEX is the opportunity to hold private and individual meetings and consultations with the leading experts in the following fields: banking, legal, accountancy and projects financing (organized on requests of participants and according to the preliminary agreed schedule).

Regular participants of the Forum include largest metallurgical, machine-building, transport, trade and financial companies of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Baltics and other countries of Eurasia, Western Europe, and America; representatives of World Trade Organisation, World Bank, OECD, European Commission, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; various departments of United Nations, industrial ministries of the countries of the Eurasian area and Western Europe, international financial and political organisations, association and unions.

If you are interested in participating in the event, please fill in the attached registration form and forward it back to us.

Best regards,

Alexander Marcautan
Project Coordinator

METEX 2004

VI EURASIAN FORUM OF THE METALLURGICAL AND MINING INDUSTRY

October 11-15, 2004

Concept: METEX is probably the best practical and important annual international forum in the field of metallurgical and mining industries of the Eurasian area countries. Over two hundred business leaders and experts in the metallurgical field from dozens of countries gather under the METEX umbrella each year. The event is together with the London Metal Exchange's Week with joint events and participation of LME experts.

Main directions for discussions: Following the planned expansion of the European Union special attention is given to the new political and economic realities, perspectives and practical solutions for the companies of the Eurasian region.

Hot topics of the discussions:

	Analyzing the current situation - Worldwide changes in metal industry and trade (EU Enlargement impact: real winners and losers, WTO implications, tariffs and taxes)
	Metal companies' expansion beyond Eurasian region· Eurasian metal industry - main tendencies and dangers (Including special review of the aluminium market)
	Changes in metal trading and brokerage operations: focus on Eurasia (Latest experience and trends, logistics)
	Optimization and new methods of metal & mining project and metal companies' financing, factoring
	Planning for the future - Investment attractiveness of Eurasian metal & mining companies: changes in overall risk profile & market challenges for Eurasian companies, metal products suppliers and consumers worldwide
	Difficult financial challenges for Eurasian metal & mining companies
	Contemporary legal challenges for Eurasian metal companies

The METEX week also includes:

	Workshop and roundtable discussion on examples of changes in the business for Eurasian companies of the metal industry - real situations and possible solutions
	Workshop and roundtable discussions (separate discussions on ferrous and non-ferrous metals, aluminum, nickel, copper, and precious metals, transportation and tariffs)
	Metal & mining risk and hedging workshop with the special attention to metal trading & metal products suppliers and consumers needs
	Field visit - Modern British metal & machine-building industry: implementation of new techniques & new management systems

The following participants are regular to the Forum: Ministry of the Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of the Industrial Policy of Ukraine, the Ministry of Trade of the USA, the European Commission, Eurofer, the London Metal Exchange, OECD, WTO, UNCTAD, the London Stock Exchange, the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, the Russian Association of Exporters of Metals, the Russian Association of Metallurgists, European Union - TASIS Programme, the Russian Association of Financial and Industrial Groups, Severstal, Norilsk Nickel, Ispat-Karmet, Russian Aluminium, SuAL, Novolipetsk Metallurgical Combine, Krivorozhstal, Zaporozhstal, Zapsib, Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Combine, the American International Institute of Steel, the International Institute of Aluminium, DuPont, Corus Group, Usinor, Pechiney, Rolls Royce Power Engineering, SAP, Stemcor, Kaiser Aluminium, Metallgesselschaft, Texuna Group, US Steel, LTV Steel, Bethlehem Steel, ING Barings, West LB, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, BNP-Paribas, Standard Bank, Societe Generale, other major metal, mining, transport, machine-building, trade and finance companies of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Baltics, other Eurasian countries, Western Europe, Northern America, Asia and Africa

During the METEX week: Private and individual meetings and consultations with the leading banking, legal, accountancy and project financing experts. Organized by requests of participants and according to the preliminary agreed schedule. Visit LVA corporate website www.lva.co.uk for more information about LVA events.