Centrorochas participates in ApexBrasil’s historic event with the launch of a mentoring program for women in foreign trade

June 2 will be remembered in the history of the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil). On this date, the Women and International Business Program was launched, which aims to support and promote gender equality in international business, in accordance with the ApexBrasil Gender Equity Commitment signed on 03/13/2023.

The communication advisor for the Brazilian Center for Ornamental Stone Exporters (Centrorochas) and It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone, Karina Porto Firme, represented the entity and the sectoral project at the event held in São Paulo. Throughout the day, the meeting had a wide agenda with panels and presentations of the program’s actions and solutions aimed at expanding women’s participation in the international market. The ceremony was attended by the president of ApexBrasil, Jorge Viana, the business director, Ana Paula Repezza, the corporate management director, Floriano Pesaro, representatives of various entities and guests.

A joint initiative between ApexBrasil and MDIC, the Elas Exportam project aims to form mentoring pairs, in which a company experienced in foreign trade will support the development of startup companies interested in engaging in export activities. The project will last for 6 months and will be repeated in annual cycles, with the objective of increasing the participation of Brazilian companies led by women in foreign trade.

Individual and collective mentoring, workshops, seminars and pitch training (oratory) will be offered to support the development of technical and socio-emotional skills and abilities necessary to boost the export activity. Registration for mentors (leaders of exporting companies who want to contribute to the project and voluntarily guide companies starting out in foreign trade) will take place from June 2nd to 23rd, 2023. Click here to register.

“We recommend that women in leadership positions in the Brazilian ornamental stone sector enroll in the program. By becoming mentors, they will be actively contributing to reducing the gender gap in foreign trade, promoting the participation and success of more women entrepreneurs”, highlighted Karina Porto Firme. In addition to boosting export activity, the selected mentors will have a prominent space in communication and marketing about the program, facilities in specific actions of MDIC and ApexBrasil and privileged access to content (collective mentoring, seminars, workshops and closure). They will also have the opportunity to compose a network for mutual strengthening and sharing experiences and opportunities.

About the Program

The Women and International Business Program will encompass all the actions that ApexBrasil already carries out in the areas of commercial intelligence, qualification, commercial promotion, international expansion, investment attraction and image promotion. To this end, the Agency will adopt inclusive mechanisms, such as extra points, tiebreakers, discounts on membership fees and pre-established vacancies for companies led and/or owned by women. Such criteria will apply both to companies at the beginning of the process of exporting or attracting investments, as well as to those that already export and wish to take or expand their operations to new markets. In addition, specific actions will be carried out, such as mentoring or business meetings, for micro and small companies, startups, cooperatives or rural producers.

Check the Landing page of the Program Here

Apply for the Women in International Business program

Sign up for the Elas Exportam mentoring program

About It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone

It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone is an export incentive program developed by the Brazilian Center for Ornamental Stones Exporters (Centrorochas) in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil). The program aims to stimulate and increase exports of Brazilian ornamental stones, through a set of strategic internationalization actions with promotion actions, strengthening the image and development of the sector in the world market.

About Centrorochas

The Brazilian Center for Dimension Stone Exporters is present in all national demands to increase the competitiveness of the dimension stone sector. The entity acts directly by providing support in the procedures related to the presence of Brazilian entrepreneurs abroad, combined with commercial and operational activities related to the development and evolution of Brazilian companies.

About ApexBrasil

ApexBrasil acts to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. To achieve these goals, the Agency carries out diversified actions of trade promotion aimed at promoting exports and valuing Brazilian products and services abroad, such as prospective and trade missions, business roundtables, support for the participation of Brazilian companies in major international fairs, visits by foreign buyers and opinion makers to get to know the Brazilian productive structure among other business platforms that also aim to strengthen the Brazil brand.