Egypt enters the spotlight for Brazilian natural stones with an unprecedented institutional mission

Egypt’s potential as a hub for the processing and international distribution of natural stones will be the focus of a Brazilian exploratory mission, scheduled for the second week of November (from November 9 to 13). The initiative is part of It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone, a project developed by the Brazilian Natural Stone Association (Centrorochas) in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

According to data from Egypt’s General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), published by the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt (AmCham Egypt), the country had 2,415 private companies in the marble and marble products sector at the end of 2025. Besides its significant industrial infrastructure, Egypt occupies a strategic geographic position between Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

“We see Egypt not only as a consumer market, but also as a potential industrial platform for Brazilian stones. The country has the capacity to import our materials, process them, and distribute them to different markets.  We want to examine this infrastructure up close and assess the opportunities it may open up for Brazil,” says the vice president of Centrorochas, Fábio Cruz.

This industrial and commercial infrastructure also sparks interest in the potential for introducing Brazilian quartzites and other natural stones into the Egyptian market. “Brazil has exceptional geodiversity, with materials that already stand out in the international market.  We aim to understand the demands of the Egyptian industry and identify new business opportunities for our companies,” Thiago Fukuda, the manager of It’s Natural, adds.

The Brazilian delegation will also include Giovanni Francischetto, the superintendent of Centrorochas; head of Communications Karina Porto-Firme; and sectoral analyst Júlia Mueller. Flávia Milanez, the CEO of Milanez & Milaneze (a company within the Veronafiere Group), will also be in Egypt. Invited by Stone Africa, the executive will seek to establish connections with the industry and promote Marmomac Brazil, which will take place from March 2 to 4, 2027, in São Paulo.

Complex with two world records on the itinerary

One of the highlights of the technical agenda will be a visit to the industrial complex Konooz Misr Marble & Granite, located in the Galala region, in Ain Sokhna. In November 2023, the facility earned two Guinness World Records: the world’s largest marble production complex, spanning an area of ​​2,042,668 square meters, and the highest annual production of finished marble, at 50 million square meters. The visit will provide an opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the complex’s production infrastructure, the technologies used to process natural stones, and its capacity to operate on an industrial scale.

The mission also includes visits to the companies Taha Stones Egypt, Modern Marble, and Onix Marble & Granite, as well as institutional meetings with representatives from Egypt’s Ministry of Industry and local industry organizations.

Brazilian stone takes center stage at Stone Africa

The mission will end with participation in the second edition of Stone Africa on November 12 and 13 in Cairo. The trade fair will provide an opportunity to showcase the potential of Brazilian natural stones to representatives of the Egyptian industry, importers, distributors, and architecture and design professionals.

On November 13, the vice president of Centrorochas will be one of the speakers at the event’s official conference, held at the Cairo International Convention Center. Under the theme “Brazilian Natural Stones: Versatility That Inspires,” the presentation will highlight Brazil’s geodiversity, the uniqueness of its materials, and their possible uses in architecture and design projects in the international market.

About It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone

It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone is an export promotion program developed by the Brazilian Natural Stone Association (Centrorochas) in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil). The program aims to encourage and increase exports of Brazilian natural stones, through a set of strategic internationalization actions with initiatives geared towards promotion, strengthening of the image and development of the industry in the global market. Companies interested in being part of the project must visit https://podio.com/webforms/26378838/1995038 to register for free.

About Centrorochas

Founded in 2004, the Brazilian Natural Stone Association (Centrorochas) is the national representative body for the Brazilian natural stone industry. Operating in 17 states, with a network of over 470 member and supported companies, it represents and coordinates one of the leading natural stone producing and exporting sectors in the world. The organization works to defend the interests and strengthen the competitiveness of the production chain, promoting dialogue with government authorities, institutions, and strategic partners. Its initiatives encompass sector development, sustainability, innovation, market intelligence and knowledge, training, trade promotion, and internationalization, contributing to enhancing the competitiveness and expanding the presence of Brazilian natural stones in Brazil and abroad.

About ApexBrasil

The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and to attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. To achieve these objectives, the Agency carries out several trade promotion activities aimed at promoting exports and valuing Brazilian products and services abroad. They include prospective and trade missions, rounds of negotiations, support for the participation of Brazilian companies in major international fairs, and visits of foreign buyers and opinion formers to learn about the Brazilian production structure, among other business platforms that also aim to strengthen the Brazil brand. The Agency also works in coordination with public and private actors to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Brazil, focusing on strategic sectors, aiming at the development of competitiveness of Brazilian companies and of the country.