Posco did not crop up in talks with Patnaik: Cho Hyun

South Korean ambassador says interaction was on potential areas of cooperation with Odisha

South Korean ambassador to India Cho Hyun has denied talks on the much delayed Posco project during his interaction with Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik here.

"The Posco issue did not crop up during our deliberations. Odisha has many other things to offer apart from the Posco project," he said. The envoy talked on potential areas of cooperation with the state.

"Discussed investments and trade opportunities in Odisha with Korean ambassador Cho Hyun," Patnaik tweeted.

Posco, meanwhile, has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it wold not be able to set up the mega steel mill of 12 million tonne capacity in Odisha by July 2017.

Posco's lawyer said the company has been unable to obtain forest and other statutory clearances and its environment clearance was valid till July 2017.

With an investment size of $12 billion, Posco is the country's biggest FDI. The project, however, has hardly showed sign of taking off the ground, being marred by delays and protests since the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Odisha government in June 2005.

Posco's announcement to freeze its mega steel mill had fuelled concerns on the fate of foreign investments to the state since Odisha had touted the Posco project as an international commitment.