Samarco participated in the 3rd Forum of Minas Gerais Regional Economic Diversification, this Wednesday (19), in Belo Horizonte. The event - organized by the Federation of Commercial, Industrial, Agricultural and Services Associations of the State of Minas Gerais (Federaminas) - was an opportunity for representatives of mining companies, NGOs and other agents from Minas Gerais to discuss contemporary themes for regional economic development.

Samarco's general manager of Sustainability, Felipe Starling, addressed the environmental, social and governance initiatives developed by the company, with a focus on sustainable growth and the purpose of mining differently. “We wish to continue growing together and this commitment is incorporated into our strategy, through the Sustainability Program, which guides us on the path to sustainable growth, with well-defined goals to achieve this objective”, he reflected.

Felipe Starling also highlighted the importance of the Força Local Program in supporting the development of the territories where the company operates. “Last year, we made purchases of BRL 1 billion from suppliers in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo and we believe that, by boosting the local economy, we affect the entire production chain, contributing to the economic development of the territories and generating value for the society. Our intention is to encourage the development of municipalities through actions that enhance their natural vocations”, concluded Starling.

Samarco's Socio-institutional Development expert, Guilherme Louzada, discussed the importance of economic diversification in Minas Gerais to reduce dependence on mining. “At Samarco, we developed the Economic Diversification Support Plan (PADE), created to enhance the potential of the cities of Mariana and Ouro Preto and support the construction of short, medium and long-term actions", he highlighted.