The first official participation of the sector in the commemorative week further contributed to bringing the Brazilian stone industry closer to discussions on investments, critical and strategic minerals, infrastructure, and economic relations.
Internationally renowned for its leading role in exports of materials with high added value for architecture and construction, the Brazilian natural stone industry is beginning to establish a new area of activity in the United States: business and institutional diplomacy.
This movement gained momentum during Brazil Week, held in New York, where, for the first time, the sector officially took part in the program through the Brazilian Natural Stone Association (Centrorochas). Throughout the week, the association’s delegation attended meetings that brought together investors, entrepreneurs, diplomatic representatives, and public leaders, holding debates on industry, mining, infrastructure, critical minerals, and economic relations between Brazil and the United States.
The Brazil-U.S. Industry Day 2026, promoted by the Brazilian National Confederation of Industry (CNI) in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, was one of the main activities. The meeting brought together more than 500 business and institutional leaders to discuss industrial development, supply chain integration, and opportunities for economic cooperation between the two countries.
Besides Brazil-U.S. Industry Day, the program included participation in the event Brazilian Regional Markets (BRM), promoted by Apex Partners. It focused on presenting the economic potential of the so-called “Brazilian Jaguars,” states and regions with above-average national growth.
In these meetings, Centrorochas’ delegation was in contact with institutions such as CNI, ApexBrasil, Atlantic Council, Apex Partners, the Embassy of Brazil in Washington, and the Consulate General of Brazil in New York, as well as Brazilian and U.S. investors, entrepreneurs, and public officers. Ricardo Alban (CNI), Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti (Embassy of Brazil in Washington), Thiago Miranda (Consulate General of Brazil in New York), Paulo Baraona (Findes), Rodrigo Fonseca (ApexBrasil NY), and Governors Eduardo Leite (from the state of Rio Grande do Sul) and Romeu Zema (from the state of Minas Gerais) were among the leaders, as well as Rafael Furlanetti (XP Inc.).
According to the vice president of Centrorochas, Fábio Cruz, the main noticeable sign was the spontaneous involvement of the industry in discussions that, until recently, were restricted to traditional sectors of manufacturing and mining.
“This movement is the result of a structured program geared towards business diplomacy, which was initially created with the tariff changes imposed on international trade by the United States,” he explained. “Since then, under the coordination of Centrorochas, the sector has begun to act more consistently in the U.S. market, including the hiring of a local office specializing in governmental and institutional relations.”
Made possible by the support of Brazilian companies with a strong business presence in the United States, the initiative was designed as a long-term strategy to expand the institutional positioning of Brazilian natural stones in the U.S. market, reaffirming that the sector plays an important role as a supplier of strategic non-metallic minerals to the construction and manufacturing production chain in the USA.
In addition to the participation of the vice president of Centrorochas, the delegation of the sector included the manager of the sectoral project It’s Natural – Brazilian Natural Stone, Thiago Fukuda, and the head of institutional communication, Karina Porto-Firme.
About Centrorochas
The Brazilian Natural Stone Association (Centrorochas) is active in all national demands to increase the competitiveness of the natural stone industry. The organization acts directly by providing support in the procedures related to the presence of Brazilian entrepreneurs abroad, along with commercial and operational activities for the development and evolution of Brazilian companies.
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 toward 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.
