Essar Steel is in talks with UK-based Buro Happold for a long-term supply of steel to Indian real estate and infrastructure companies. The company is likely to supply steel to the developers under the supervision of Buro Happold. Buro Happold managing director Steve Brown said, ?We may work with Essar but nothing has been finalised so far.? The company would focus on emerging economies such as India and China after the West Asia and the UK, he added. ?It?s too premature to talk about any supply arrangement with Buro Happold, but, we are always open to such opportunities as and when they arrive,? an Essar Steel spokesperson said. Steel demand will continue to increase because a lot of emphasis has been laid on infrastructure development in the Budget. The government has proposed to invest Rs 1,73,000 crore in infrastructure in 2010-11, which will increase demand for metals and commodities like steel and cement. The engineering firm recently established its office in Mumbai and is further looking at ramping up its headcount in India to 100 over the next few months.
Buro Happold is a structural engineering firm that designs and builds residential and commercial multi-storey buildings besides infrastructure projects.
