MUSCAT : “We are investing in expanding to Duqm. With that expansion, Oman will be the largest producer of steel as well as green steel in the Middle East,” says Harssha Shetty, CEO of Jindal Shadeed Iron and Steel.

Harssha Shetty took over as CEO of Jindal Shadeed Iron and Steel (JSIS) six months ago and has been at the top of managing the company from the get-go. JSIS is the largest privately owned steel producer in the GCC and the fourth-largest producer of steel in the region.

An engineer by profession, Harssha has an MBA in marketing as well as CFA Level-3 qualification from the CFA Institute in West Virginia.

No place for monotony

There is no place for monotony at JSIS, which is poised for exemplary growth while boosting the economy of Oman. Working in tandem with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s Vision 2040 plan to reduce the country’s dependency on the oil and gas sector while diversifying into non-oil-based manufacturing, JSIS is flying the flag high.

“We have invested over $1.2 billion in the past five years, with an additional $5.4 billion of ICV addition. We are very proud that we have achieved over 51 percent Omanisation. The government is moving towards diversifying the country’s economy and we are committed to this objective,” says Harssha.

JSIS is looking to invest in Duqm in the future. “Oman is an investor friendly destination and Duqm’s prime location makes it an attractive and feasible choice for conducting business,” says Harssha.

Green outlook

JSIS is in the process of firmly establishing Oman as a powerhouse on the industry world map in the field of steel production. “We are investing in expanding to Duqm. With that expansion, Oman will be the largest producer of green steel in the world,” shares Harssha.

Green steel refers to the manufacturing of steel without the use of fossil fuels. Instead, steel is made from renewable energy with the use of green hydrogen, which greatly reduces the impact on the environment.

While the investment is huge in setting up green steel manufacturing plants, Harssha says that the Oman government’s proactive approach to business and policies make it one of the most attractive and feasible destinations in the region.

“JSIS is investing in the future – the facility to manufacture green steel. We are investing in the green steel ecosystem and this will make Oman the largest producer of green steel in the region,” says Harssha.

In addition to the range and quality of its products and strategic location, what sets JSIS apart from its competitors is not only its range and quality of products, square billets, round billets, reinforced bars, and value-added billets but also JSIS’s commitment to the environment as well as the local communities in which it has been serving for years.

Dedicated to Omanisation

Developing and training Omani talent has been one of the key objectives of JSIS. “We have Omani workforce at key positions in JSIS. We focus a lot on developing talent. The Omani workforce we have at JSIS is extremely talented, bright, eager, and ambitious. We are dedicated to employing and training local talent at JSIS,” says Harssha.

In Oman, JSIS is recognised as one of the foremost employers of choice. The company provides a safe, stable, and collegial working environment for its workforce. Continuing education, on-the-job training, and crucible role are some of the salient markers of a career at JSIS.

JSIS continuously invests in developing the future skills of its employees. Currently, the company achieves more than training man-days per employee. During the Covid-19 pandemic, JSIS sprang to action to provide a safe working environment for its employees and without interruptions to the production cycle. JSIS is one of the first private employers in Oman to vaccinate its employees and their families.

Awards for excellence

JSIS is the recipient of a number of awards that include the Sultan Qaboos Award for Industrial Excellence & Innovation and Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Excellence Award, to name a few.

JSIS is poised to firmly position Oman as a powerhouse on the global map in the steel manufacturing realm. “The manufacturing of steel is moving from the western hemisphere to the eastern hemisphere. The most competitive and cost-effective base for steel production will be the Middle East,” says Harssha. “Oman holds a lot of promise and together with the government of Oman we are working towards a more diverse economy.”

Developing young sports talent

Going forward, JSIS intends to partner with and contribute to sports development in Oman. 

We have partnered with Oman Hockey Association, as a key sponsor. We are also looking at developing young talent for football. 

Football is the most celebrated sport in Oman and we feel that this is the right time to contribute. We have partnered with the Oman Football Association for the setting up of Football Talent Centers across Oman. This initiative by OFA shall help to groom and mentor potential players from a young age. We are also looking at various other opportunities for partnering with other prestigious academies. 

As a prelude to our partnership announcements, we have created a beautiful film that beautifully captures the culture of Oman and the love for football. We hope the film shall inspire young and talented children.