Centrorochas’ Board approves strategic guidelines and plans to expand international operations

Governance, safeguarding of interests, and global expansion marked the Board meeting held on September 16 at the organization’s headquarters.

In a hybrid session held at the organization’s headquarters, the Governing Board and Audit Committee of the Brazilian Natural Stone Association (Centrorochas) met to assess the results of the first half of 2025 and approve strategic guidelines for coming months. With the president Tales Machado and the vice president Fábio Cruz in attendance, the meeting was chaired by the superintendent Giovanni Francischetto and was attended by board members, both in person and remotely.

Rendering of accounts and cash flow

The initial presentation focused on analyzing the financial results of the first half of the year, followed by a report compiled by the Audit Committee. The fact that Centrorochas currently has 123 member companies was highlighted. It is the highest number ever recorded by the organization, although still below the target set for this year. Cash flow projections through the end of 2025 were also presented, taking into account new resource allocation rules set forth by ApexBrasil.

Sectoral Project 2025-2027

Details were provided on the new cycle of the Sectoral Project It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone, signed between Centrorochas and ApexBrasil for the period between 2025 and 2027. The plan includes 35 actions: 22 for trade promotion, 11 structuring activities, and 2 communication measures. Their target markets include countries such as Australia, China, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Mexico, and Colombia, among others.

Governance: new documents and compliance

The Board also approved the new Internal Regulations and the unprecedented Code of Ethics and Conduct of the organization, focusing on strengthening governance, ethics, and transparency. The documents address guidelines on fighting harassment and preventing conflicts of interest and outline the responsibilities of members, in addition to the creation of a reporting channel. The material will be publicly available on the association’s website so as to ensure transparency and promote the institutional values of the organization.

Progress in international partnerships

One of the highlights among the strategic topics under discussion was the proposal to hire a lobbying firm in the United States. This measure aims to strengthen the safeguarding of the industry with the U.S. government, especially in the context of the tariff crisis. Six proposals were analyzed, and the most cost-effective among them was presented. Given the urgency of implementation, the Board decided to openly receive voluntary contributions from the firms, aiming to make the initiative viable and to expand the international representation of the industry.

NSSA, partnership with NSI, and presence in Dubai

Another progress presented during the meeting was the establishment of the Natural Stone Strategic Alliance (NSSA), an international organization that brings together major stone-producing countries. The initiative seeks to foster collaborative projects, strengthen international presence, and expand activities at trade fairs and distribution channels. The first meeting of the alliance will take place on September 25, during Marmomac, in Italy.

The creation of a dual membership program between Centrorochas and the Natural Stone Institute (NSI) was also discussed. It will enable exchanges between companies and expanded access to educational materials, events, and strategic databases.

Finally, a proposal for operations in the Middle East was presented to the Board, aiming to expand the presence of Brazilian natural stone in strategic markets in the region. The initiative, currently being preliminarily structured, will likely be detailed at the next strategic sectoral meeting, scheduled to take place no later than December.

At the end of the meeting, Tales Machado thanked everyone for their attendance and emphasized that the association is committed to transparency, institutional strengthening, and the ongoing search for solutions that promote the Brazilian natural stone industry on the global stage.