Rio de Aço Trophy highlights the strength of the industry in Rio de Janeiro Disclosure/Approach The steel chain is present in all sectors of the economy and in people's daily lives. It is a fundamental industrial force to boost civil construction and the automotive industry. Inside a home, this force is highlighted in household appliances, in cans of condensed milk, sardines and preserves, and even in computers and cell phones. In the industrial yard, this economic engine is portrayed in numbers, in the generation of more than 100 thousand jobs in the state, representing 5% of Rio de Janeiro's GDP, collecting R$4.5 billion in taxes. In Sul Fluminense alone, the main metal-mechanical hub in Rio de Janeiro, it is estimated that there will be a concentration of 50 thousand direct workers, distributed among the steel, industry, logistics, service provision and commerce sectors. And it is precisely this representation that was highlighted in the 2nd edition of the Rio de Aço Trophy, held in Volta Redonda, at the end of July. Rio de Aço Trophy highlights the strength of the Rio de Janeiro industry Disclosure/Aproaço Produced by Aproaço (Association of Steel Processors of the State of Rio de Janeiro), the Steel Industry Oscar brought together representatives of more than 50 companies from different regions of the state, as well as political authorities and representative institutions, such as Metalsul, a union honored for its relevance to the development of industries in Médio Paraíba. During the awards ceremony, tribute was paid to the eight founding companies of Aproaço, which completed 5 years in 2026, as well as professionals who contributed decisively to the association taking shape in 2021. Rio de Aço Trophy highlights the strength of the industry in Rio de Janeiro Disclosure/Aproaço “It is important to recognize those who started it all back there, when we barely had a place to meet. These companies, together with important professionals in the legal and accounting areas, decided to stop complaining due to the lack of legal security and institutional defense and decided to act. Over time, the demands grew, the association gained strength and new members. And today we can hold, once again, a party that shows the strength of the sector and its importance for the economic development of Rio de Janeiro, especially for its interior”, explained the president of Aproaço, Haroldo Filho. Strength and Recognition Currently, with more than 40 affiliated companies, Aproaço has stood out for its work to strengthen the transformation industries and their competitiveness. The fight against the invasion of imported steel - which takes away investments and jobs in the state of Rio, and studies that seek to ratify the relevance of tax incentives for the survival of the sector in the state, are among some of the projects underway by the association. "This is a key point. The strength to work and achieve results is linked to the sector's ability to mobilize. An organized sector, with metrics and impact studies help to guide decisions in the political sphere. With dialogue and strategy we are making progress on these and other issues, such as blind spots in the regulation of Tax Reform. One of the event's speakers, the Commercial executive of Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN), Luis Fernando Martinez, highlighted the decisive role played by the steel company in strengthening the metalworking hub in Rio de Janeiro, boosting investments, logistics, innovation and job creation. Rio de Aço Trophy highlights the strength of the industry in Rio de Janeiro Disclosure/Aproaço "We are observing the transformations that the sector has undergone in recent years, in terms of competitiveness, and I say that it is impossible to be successful if we do not have the entire industrial chain united and working in the same way. That is why the Rio de Aço Trophy is a fantastic event, joining forces and recognizing the importance of the sector that has a multiplier effect on the economy, in the generation of jobs and in the formation of new technical schools", explained Martinez. Five companies lifted the Trophy At the highlight of the party, the trophy was awarded to the companies with the best projects and initiatives in five categories: in Expansion and Job Generation, the big winner was Metalúrgica Barra do Piraí, which recently invested more than R$100 million for the inauguration of its new tube factory, Mval, which created around 110 new jobs in Barra do Piraí. In the People Management category, the company Brasilata came out on top with the Copa das Ideias project. During the months of October, November and December, employees registered projects with the aim of reducing losses and generating real results for production. More than 1,600 ideas were received and 1,300 ideas were implemented by the company. In the Sports Incentive category, the Cinbal Incoflandres group took the trophy, the third since the creation of the award. With sponsorship projects that encourage the base football divisions of Voltaço and Resende, in addition to supporting rustic running circuits in Pinheiral and Volta Redonda, Cinbal has been standing out as the main company that invests in regional sport. In the penultimate category, the company Litografia Valença won with the Employee Health project. With several actions aimed at physical and mental health, such as gymnastics at work; eye exams; massages, encouragement for periodic exams and lectures, the company won its first Rio de steel trophy. Finally, the best Social and Cultural project went to the company Rafer Ferro e Aço, owned by Levy Gasparian. Being a protagonist in several social projects, the company surpassed the mark of 1 tons of food donated between its headquarters, in addition to supporting cultural projects in the municipality. Rio de Aço Trophy highlights the strength of the industry in Rio de Janeiro Disclosure/Approach