President of ApexBrasil visits the largest ornamental stone fair in the Americas

The importance of the ornamental stone industry was highlighted at the opening ceremony of Vitoria Stone Fair 2023, the largest fair in the segment in Latin America. The ceremony, held on February 7th, celebrated the 20th anniversary of the event, which took place from February 7th to 10th in Espírito Santo, the state responsible for 82% of exports from the productive arrangement.

The ceremony was attended by the president of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), Jorge Viana, the director of the National Mining Agency (ANM), Mauro Henrique de Souza, the president of the Brazilian Center for Ornamental Stones Exporters (Centrorochas), Tales Machado, among others such as executives, authorities, entrepreneurs in the ornamental stone production chain, global buyers, architects, designers, builders, representatives of organizing entities, national and international authorities linked to the sector.

For four days, the sector’s main novelties were exhibited at the Carapina Pavilion, in Serra. This year, the event innovated with lectures and spaces that presented the evolution of ornamental stone design, in addition to state-of-the-art machinery and equipment.

Honoring the first day of the event, the president of ApexBrasil, Jorge Viana, congratulated the sector’s representatives for seeking new spaces and paths to boost the growth of the production chain. “That’s what Centrorochas and ApexBrasil are doing, treading a new path that is bearing fruit”, he said at the opening ceremony, referring to the partnership between the two entities in running It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone, a project to promote Brazilian rocks in the international market.

In his participation, the deputy governor of Espírito Santo, Ricardo Ferraço, highlighted the changes and developments in the sector. “The ornamental stone sector, over the last 20 years, has changed a lot and changed for the better. Not just in aspects related to volume, production, quality, added value. But in its concepts and values as well as in its collective responsibility towards society”.

In his speech, the president of the Union of Dimension Stone, Lime and Limestone Industries of the State of Espírito Santo (Sindirochas), Ed Martins, highlighted the evolution that the sector has achieved since the Vitoria Stone Fair began to be held, mainly in the areas social and environmental. “There was qualification and improvement in all areas, but I would like to highlight the environmental issue, such as the implementation of the closed water circuit, which avoids waste, and also the social issue, with Rochativa, which is a project carried out fifteen years ago. . It is important for us to have this perspective and this responsibility”, he highlighted.

In the same tone, the president of Centrorochas, Tales Machado, addressed the sustainable measures adopted by industries to make the sector even more responsible for the environment. He also highlighted the closed water circuit, and the multiwire technology, which makes cutting rocks cleaner. The issue of sustainability is present at Vitoria Stone Fair since all energy consumed during the four days of the event is 100% renewable, from a clean source. Tales Machado also spoke about the project to carry out his own studies within the ornamental stone sector. “We have a lot of unofficial information, now we want to do a really scientifically based study to compare the emission of gases in relation to other products”, he said.

Vitoria Stone Fair was organized by Milanez & Milaneze, promoted by Sindirochas and Cetemag and supported by Centrorochas, sponsored by Bandes, Caixa, Sicoob, Sesi Senai and CREA-ES.

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 objectives, the Agency carries out diversified commercial promotion actions that and aim to promote exports and value 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 learn about the Brazilian production structure among other business platforms that also aim to strengthen the Brazil brand.