On June 25 and 26, Samarco participated in the 5th Regional Forum on Economic Diversification – Minas Gerais Edition, held at the auditorium of the Minas Gerais Development Bank (BDMG) in Belo Horizonte. The event brought together public and private sector leaders to discuss cooperation, innovation, and strategies to reduce regional economic dependence in Minas Gerais.
During the forum's opening ceremony, Samarco's General Manager of Institutional and Government Relations, William Sarayed, presented the company's history and its role in the development of the regions where it operates. The presentation highlighted the resumption of operations using new technologies — such as the tailings filtration and dry stacking system —the company's commitments under the New Rio Doce Agreement, and the plan to restore 100% of its installed production capacity by 2028, backed by an R$ 13.8 billion investment and the creation of up to 13,000 new direct jobs and contractor positions in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo.
"We want Samarco's presence to extend beyond its operations, creating opportunities and contributing to the development of the regions where we operate," Sarayed stated.
Bruno Pimentel, Manager of Development and Innovation, joined the panel "Innovation Ecosystems and Regional Development." In his presentation, Pimentel addressed the role of mining in building innovation ecosystems that extend beyond operational boundaries and deliver tangible benefits to society, highlighting initiatives such as the Economic Diversification Support Plan (PADE) and circular economy solutions. "The most legitimate innovation emerges from openness to dialogue and a willingness to share leadership with local communities," he emphasized.
Additionally, Roberto Guimarães, Samarco's Manager of Institutional Relations in Minas Gerais, participated in the Municipal Forums Round Table during the panel "Territories in Motion: Lessons Learned and Guidelines for Economic Diversification in Minas Gerais," where he spoke about the paradigm shift following the Fundão dam and Brumadinho dam collapses. According to him, the industry had to regain its ability to listen and approach communities with humility so that society would embrace this new approach to mining, which is safer and more sustainable.