The second Coordinating Council of Severstal and Van Leer reviewed work done by companies since the first council in November of 2001and discussed future plans. In reviewing fulfilling of the decisions of the fist Council's meeting, it was noted that Severstal improved quality and increased sales. An increase in sales of rolled steel in 2002 as compared with the like period of 2001 was 28%.

At the second Coordinating Council's meeting parties confirmed their interest in broadening cooperation and shipping steel to Van Leer branches abroad, particularly, to Check Republic, Greece and Ukrain.

The second Coordinating Council discussed opportunities of producing higher quality products which are required by foreign branches of Van Leer. In case if test batches our found satisfactory, Van Leer foreign branches will purchase rolled metal made by Severstal.

Decisions of the March meeting, reflected in the minutes, will be reviewed at the next Coordinating Council's meeting, which will take place in Holland in June.

The Van Leer company is the largest international producer of packaging with branches in many countries. A yearly demand of Van Leer for rolled steel is 900,000 tonnes. The company is interested in buying steel from Eastern-European countries, especially Russia. Since 1997, Van Leer has established branches in Vologda and Beloyarsk (Ural, Sverdlovsk region), which cover 20% of all Russian demand for metal packaging. Most of the packaging is made out of Severstal made steel. In 2002-2003, the company plans to open new branches in Russian cities of Omsk and Volgograd.