The importance of the ornamental stones industry was highlighted at the opening ceremony of Vitoria Stone Fair 2023, the largest fair of the segment in Latin America. The solemnity, which took place on February 07th, exalted the 20 years of the event, which took place from February 7th to 10th in the state of Espirito Santo, responsible for 82% of the exports of 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 of Natural stone Exporters (Centrorochas), Tales Machado, among other executives, authorities, entrepreneurs of the ornamental stone production chain, world buyers, architects, designers, construction companies, representatives of the organizing entities, national and international authorities connected to the sector.
For four days, the sector’s main novelties were displayed at Carapina Pavilion, in Serra. This year, the event innovated with lectures and spaces that presented the evolution in the design of natural stones, in addition to machinery and equipment of the latest generation.
The president of ApexBrasil, Jorge Viana, attended the first day of the event and congratulated the representatives of the sector for seeking new spaces and ways to boost the growth of the production chain. “That’s what Centrorochas and ApexBrasil are doing, treading a new path that is showing results”, he said at the opening ceremony, referring to the partnership between the two entities in conducting It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone, a project to promote Brazilian stones in the international market.
In his participation, the vice-governor of Espírito Santo, Ricardo Ferraço, highlighted the changes and evolutions of the sector. “The sector of ornamental stones, over the last 20 years, has changed a lot and changed for the better. Not only in aspects related to volume, production, quality, added value. But in its concepts and values, as well as in its collective responsibility to society”.
In his speech, the president of the Ornamental stones, Lime and Limestone Industries’ Union of the State of Espírito Santo (Sindirochas), Ed Martins, emphasized the evolution that the sector has achieved since the Vitoria Stone Fair started to be held, especially in the social and environmental areas. “There was a 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, a work that has been going on for fifteen years. It is important that we have this look and this responsibility”, he highlighted.
In the same tone, the president of Centrorochas, Tales Machado, approached the sustainable measures adopted by the industries to make the sector even more responsible with the environment. He also highlighted the closed water circuit, and the multiwire technology, which makes cutting the stones cleaner. The issue of sustainability is present at the Vitoria Stone Fair since all the energy consumed during the four days of the event is 100% renewable, from a clean source. Tales Machado also talked about the project to conduct its own studies within the stone sector. “We have a lot of unofficial information, now we want to do a study with a real scientific basis to compare the emission of gases in relation to other products”, he said.
The Vitoria Stone Fair was organized by Milanez & Milaneze, promoted by Sindirochas and Cetemag, and supported by Centrorochas, and sponsored by Bandes, Caixa, Sicoob, Sesi Senai and CREA-ES.
About It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone
The It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone is an export incentive program developed by the Brazilian Center of Natural Stones Exporters (Centrorochas) in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil). The program aims to stimulate and increase the exports of Brazilian natural stones, through a set of strategic actions for internationalization with promotional activities, strengthening the image and development of the sector in the market worldwide.
About Centrorochas
The Brazilian Center of Natural Stones Exporters acts directly on the procedures related to the presence of Brazilian businesspeople abroad combined with commercial and operational activities related to the development and evolution of Brazilian companies.
About ApexBrasil
ApexBrasil works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. In order to achieve these objectives, the Agency carries out diversified trade promotion actions aiming at promoting exports and enhancing the value of Brazilian products and services abroad, such as prospective and trade missions, business rounds, supporting the participation of Brazilian companies in major international fairs, visits of foreign buyers and opinion leaders to be introduced to the Brazilian productive structure, among other business platforms that also aim at strengthening the Brazil brand.
