The History of ACS

Foundation of the Santos Trade Association

In 1846, the first efforts were made to establish an institution to address commercial affairs and promote the economic development of Santos, but they did not progress due to the limited commercial environment. Success in these initiatives only came in 1870.

Despite Santos being a respected trade center, the organizing body of the newly founded Santos Trade Association - composed of Nicolau Vergueiro, Ignácio Wallace da Gama Cochrane, William Wright, Gustavo Backeuser, G. Wagner, and J. Azurém Costa - had to exert considerable effort. The provisional board was comprised of the pioneers from the organizing committee.

Nicolau Vergueiro served as the first president of the Santos Trade Association.

The charters of the Santos Trade Association were approved by Imperial Decree 4738 on June 7, 1871. They were recorded at the Customs House, registered with the Rio de Janeiro Trade Court, and published in the Federal Gazette on March 29, 1874.

The regent imperial princess, Isabel, representing her father, Emperor Dom Pedro II, signs the authorization for the establishment of the Santos Trade Association.

The first general assembly of the Santos Trade Association is held.

The first legislative board of directors is sworn in, with Comendador Nicolau Vergueiro as president, a position he holds until 1878. Vergueiro offers the building where the election takes place, located at 38 Rua da Praia, to serve as the headquarters of the Santos Trade Association.

The painter Benedicto Calixto creates a panel depicting the Santos estuary, which becomes part of the Santos Trade Association's collection. The panel showcases the estuary with Barnabé Island in the background and is displayed in the ACS Presidency Room.

Emperor Dom Pedro II and Empress Teresa Cristina visit the Santos Trade Association. The Golden Book of distinguished visitors is opened in honor of the imperial couple. A curiosity is that the Emperor signed as Dom Pedro 2nd, using the numeral ordinal, rather than Roman numerals.

Dom Pedro II and Teresa Cristina visit to the Santos Trade Association once again.

Viscount Nicolau Pereira de Campos Vergueiro (the first president of the Santos Trade Association) invites Benedicto Calixto to study in Europe between 1883 and 1884, covering his expenses and ensuring, with the cooperation of friends, the support of the artist's family during his stay abroad.

Purchase of the Santos Trade Association building. By public deed dated October 12, 1883, the Santos Trade Association purchases from Jesuína Augusta de Aguiar Peixoto and others, the property described as follows:  "A two-story building located in this city, at 55 Rua 25 de Março, facing the said street and Largo 11 de Junho, with 3 iron balcony windows...".  Furthermore, the text mentions: "This building is now in ruins due to a fire”, which occurred on July 30, 1883. The Association's own headquarters was subsequently built on this site, where the entity continues to operate to this day, at 137 Rua XV de Novembro, at the corner of Rua Riachuelo.

Dom Pedro II visits the Santos Trade Association once again.

The painter Benedicto Calixto donates the painting "Santos em 1888" to the Santos Trade Association. The image depicts a panoramic view of Santos and is displayed in the ACS Presidency Room.

Ruy Barbosa, known as the "Águia de Haia" (Eagle of The Hague), visits the Santos Trade Association.

The Santos Trade Association governs Santos through popular motion. The Municipal administration of Santos is deposed, and the Santos Trade Association is acclaimed to take over municipal government. The board of directors of the Trade Association was presided over by Antonio Carlos da Silva Telles, who performed the duties from December 18 to 30, 1891, focusing only on the most urgent matters.

* Anticipating any official initiatives, the Santos Trade Association pioneers commercial vacations, English week, and retirement for employees.

* The Santos Trade Association opposes a law limiting coffee exports to 9 million bags in the State of São Paulo.

The poet Olavo Bilac, the Prince of Brazilian Poets, visits the Santos Trade Association, but not for a literary mission. He comes for negotiations to establish the supply of daily telegrams regarding international market quotations. Bilac was the director of the American Agency responsible for the news service.

The painter Carlos Oswald created the painting "Forças da Pátria," (Forces of the Homeland) which is part of the collection of the Santos Trade Association. It is currently displayed in the Meeting Room on the first floor.  Oswald was also the author of, among other works, the final design for the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.

The Santos Trade Association is declared a federal public utility by Decree 3348.

The then President of the Republic, Wenceslau Brás, visits the Santos Trade Association.

The foundational cornerstone of the Santos Trade Association's headquarters on Rua XV de Novembro is placed. The then President of the Republic, Epitácio Pessoa, is the main authority present. Also in attendance are the State's president, Washington Luís Pereira de Sousa, and the mayor of Santos, Colonel Joaquim Montenegro.

The Santos Trade Association's building at the original address, 135 Rua XV de Novembro, is inaugurated. The current address of ACS is 137 Rua XV de Novembro. The building is completed during the term of José Martiniano Rodrigues Alves, from 1923 to 1924, and extends from Rua Riachuelo to Praça Azevedo Júnior. At the location, initially, Montepio Comercial and the Beneficent Fund for Coffee Trade Assistants of Santos operated. The headquarters was built in the eclectic style with a strong Baroque influence.

State Law 2201 recognizes the Santos Trade Association as a representative institution of Santos' interests.

The Santos Trade Association immediately mobilizes and raises funds for the victims of the landslide on Monte Serrat. It also assists the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Santos (hospital), which suffers losses due to the collapse.

The Santos Trade Association is recognized as the representative institution of the general interests of the commerce in Santos by State Law 1416.

The Santos Trade Association is declared a technical and advisory body of the Federal Government through Decree 7770.

The then President of the Republic, Eurico Gaspar Dutra, visits the Santos Trade Association.

The then President of the Republic, Juscelino Kubitschek, and the then Governor of São Paulo, Jânio Quadros, visit the Santos Trade Association.
Check out the full speech by Juscelino Kubitschek during his visit to the Santos Trade Association.

Juscelino Kubitschek makes another visit to the Santos Trade Association.

The Santos Trade Association holds the first edition of the International Coffee Seminar in Santos.

The then President of the Republic, Ernesto Geisel, participates in the International Seminar in Santos, promoted by the Santos Trade Association. It is the first visit by a president to the event.

The Santos Trade Association inaugurates the Coffee Classification and Tasting Room on the third floor of the building.

The Santos Trade Association organizes the first International Coffee Classification and Tasting Course, which is now a national and international reference, attracting professionals from Brazil and abroad.

Elected President of the Republic, Fernando Collor de Mello, visits the Santos Trade Association.

The then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Celso Amorim, visits the Santos Trade Association.

The Department of Port Operators of the Santos Trade Association is created. The department is established to bring together entrepreneurs in port operations, an activity defined in Law 8630/93, known as the Ports Law.

In 1995, the Santos Trade Association is involved in the Centro Vivo Movement, aimed at revitalizing the Historic Center of Santos.

The Santos Trade Association participates in the preparations and is one of the founders of the 1st State Coffee Quality Contest of São Paulo.

With changes to the Articles of Incorporation, approved in a May 2006 assembly, the Sectoral Chambers of the Santos Trade Association are created, succeeding the Sectoral Departments. The main objective of the Sectoral Chambers is to bring together entrepreneurs by sector of activity to facilitate the exchange of information and to develop management and advocacy efforts in the interest of companies within each Sectoral Chamber.

The Santos Trade Association launches the National Mobilization Program for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry (Prominp) by Petrobras, related to the Santos Basin, with the aim of balancing the supply and demand of goods and services for the oil and gas chain.

The Information Desk of the Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES) is inaugurated at the Santos Trade Association.

The Santos Trade Association is elected as the Reference Trade Association of the Southeast Region in 2007, an award offered by the Confederation of Trade Associations of Brazil (CACB).

The Santos Trade Association Jovem (ACS Jovem) is established, a group of young entrepreneurs with the aim of developing prominent leadership in the Brazilian business scenario, building networks of relationships among local young entrepreneurs and their peers around the world, and maturing the entrepreneurial profile of the region to strengthen the economy. Taking office: Elias Francisco da Silva Junior, as coordinator; José Muniz, vice-coordinator; and Erik Sanches Salgado, secretary. The following counselors also take office: André Vasconcelos, Edward Casagrande, Helder Knidel, Leandro Borges Taveira, Miguel Rolo and Milton Teixeira Filho.

Inauguration of a Federal Revenue Service Service Desk at the facilities of the Santos Trade Association.

Start of operation of the Digital Certificate service desk at the Santos Trade Association. The digital certificate is used to ensure authenticity, privacy, integrity, and inviolability of messages, documents, and transactions conducted via the Internet, both for the holder and the recipient. Among other purposes, the digital certificate functions as a digital signature, with legal validity for use as a handwritten signature, proving that the owner agrees with the signed document.

The Santos Trade Association Jovem (ACS Jovem) holds the 1st Young Entrepreneur Week, which is part of the official calendar of the municipality of Santos. The lectures are held at partner universities. The event is promoted annually, always in the month of March.

Establishment of the Health Sectoral Chamber, bringing together companies and institutions related to Medicine and Health. Raimundo Viana de Macedo (Unimed de Santos - Medical Practice Cooperative) was elected as coordinator, Eli Celice Dias (Fundação Plural - Plural Development Network) as vice-coordinator, and Alberto Augusto Guimarães Gonçalves (Instituto de Análises Clínicas de Santos) as secretary. The founding companies or entities of the Health Sectoral Chamber were: Clínica Refraktum, Fundação Plural, Hospital Visão Laser Oftalmologia, Instituto de Análises Clínicas de Santos, Meyer Serviços Médicos, Perfil Saúde Ocupacional and Unimed de Santos.

Senator Aloizio Mercadante visits the Santos Trade Association, where he is received by the entity's directors.

The Santos Trade Association coordinates a campaign in partnership with the A Tribuna Communication System to collect water and supplies to be donated to the population of Haiti, a country devastated by an earthquake on January 12, 2010. The initiative also has the support of the 2nd Light Infantry Battalion (BIL) for the transportation of materials. The campaign collects 2.5 tons of food and water.

Governor José Serra, the PSDB candidate for the presidency of Brazil, visits the Santos Trade Association, where he participates in the opening of the Baixada em Ação 2010 Seminar - Growth with Sustainability, held on March 11 and 12, 2010. Serra highlights that the Onda Limpa (Clean Wave) program is the largest basic sanitation project in the country, with investments of R$ 1.4 billion. The governor is welcomed by the directors of the Santos Trade Association.

Governor José Serra, the PSDB candidate for the presidency of Brazil, visits the Santos Trade Association, where he participates in the opening of the Baixada em Ação 2010 Seminar - Growth with Sustainability, held on March 11 and 12, 2010. Serra highlights that the Onda Limpa (Clean Wave) program is the largest basic sanitation project in the country, with investments of R$ 1.4 billion. The governor is welcomed by the directors of the Santos Trade Association.

The then Senator Marina Silva, the candidate of the Green Party (PV) for the presidency of Brazil, visits the Santos Trade Association. She advocates for the convocation of an exclusive National Constituent Assembly to discuss tax, political, and labor reforms. She is welcomed by the directors of the Santos Trade Association.

The Santos Trade Association celebrates its 140th anniversary. "For us, directors of the Santos Trade Association," says President Michael Timm, "it is a privilege and an honor to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the organization. The prospects for the association, the city, and the Baixada Santista (Santos Lowlands) are the best possible, with investments from Petrobras to explore the pre-salt. And for the coming years, the outlook is excellent, as the oil and gas chain will undoubtedly yield many business opportunities." The 140th-anniversary celebration takes place on December 3, 2010, at Estação Santos, an event space in the Historic Center.

The new website of the Santos Trade Association is launched. The address www.acs.org.br is retained with a new, cleaner look and dynamic content, including news from the organization and topics of interest to member companies.

The debut of the ACS TV program takes place, featuring 30 minutes of interviews with authorities, experts, and business leaders discussing topics related to the Santos Trade Association. The program airs on Thursdays at 8:00 pm, with a reprise on Sundays at 11:00 am on TV Com, channel 11 on Net Santos, SP.

The new Articles of Incorporation of the Santos Trade Association are approved. One of the novelties is the election of the Executive Board, which now takes place every three years instead of biennially.

The leadership presided over by Michael Timm is reelected, marking the first term of three years. The previous term, which began on March 27, 2009, and was also led by Timm, was the last with a two-year duration.

The then Minister of Science and Technology, Aloizio Mercadante, decides to hold the first Forum on Science, Technology, and Innovation in Baixada Santista (Santos Lowlands), in a meeting organized by the Sectoral Chamber of Educational Institutions of the Santos Trade Association.

The Santos Trade Association holds the Forum on Science, Technology, Research, and Innovation, with support from the Ministry of Science and Technology and in partnership with the A Tribuna Communication System. The event, held at the Mendes Convention Center in Santos, is part of the 7th edition of the Gás na Economia (Gas in the Economy) program.

The Santos Trade Association conducts the 50th Coffee Classification and Tasting Course. The 50th class had lessons until March 29 and counted with the participation of 16 students.

The Santos Trade Association establishes the Sectoral Chamber of Oil and Gas, bringing together companies and entities in the sector. For the president of the Santos Trade Association, Michael Timm, this marks an important milestone in the history of the city and the organization. "The definition of the members who will lead the Sectoral Chamber of Oil and Gas is historic and important. This demonstrates, above all, that the Santos Trade Association, once again, is in tune with the city's economic moment and willing to make its contribution," says Timm. Vicente do Valle (Ciesa), the 1st vice-president of ACS, is elected coordinator of the Sectoral Chamber of Oil and Gas. Nelson Juniti Nakamura (Soteica do Brasil) takes on the role of vice-president, and Gustavo Pierotti (G. Pierotti Ship Supplier) becomes the secretary.

The Sectoral Chamber of Oil and Gas of the Santos Trade Association holds its first ordinary meeting.

Roberto Clemente Santini, CEO of TV Tribuna, is elected president of the Santos Trade Association in an ordinary general assembly for the 2014-2017 term. Here are the other members elected to the Executive Board of ACS: 1st vice president, John Olav Wolthers (Comexim); 2nd vice president, Ramiro Manuel Martins Marota (Grieg Retroporto); 1st secretary, Henry James Robinson (Brasil Terminal Portuário); 2nd secretary, Alexandre Garrido Ehrenberger (AGE Desenvolvimento de Sistemas); 1st financial director, André Luiz Marques Canoilas (AMC Holding); 2nd financial director, Vicente de Paulo Vieira do Vale (Ciesa); 1st alternate, Edison da Silva Monteiro (Unip Santos); 2nd alternate, Marin Alexandre Aron (Libra Terminais). The Fiscal Council members are: Vítor de Souza (Agência de Turismo Vasco da Gama), Pedro Veras dos Anjos (Gestão Empresarial por Observação – GEO) and Italiano Staniscia Filho (Terminal Marítimos do Guarujá – Termag). The alternates are: Gustavo Assef Pierotti (G. Pierotti Ship Supplier), José Américo Trindade (Hamburg Sud Brasil) and Fabrício Guimarães Julião (Una Marketing de Eventos).

For the first time in the history of the Santos Trade Association, a woman is elected to a leadership position. Ana Carmen Sampel Borges, from the Cooperativa Regional de Cafeicultores em Guaxupé (Cooxupé), is elected President of the Sectoral Chambers Council of the Santos Trade Association. In the election, Mike Sealy was chosen as vice president, Nixon Santiago Morais as 1st secretary, and Fabrício Motta Paulella as 2nd secretary. The term is three years, until the election of the Executive Board in 2017.

The Sectoral Chamber of Real Estate Development and Civil Construction is created.

Inauguration of the Santos Trade Association Jovem (ACS Jovem), the Young Entrepreneurs' Group of the association. Leandro Borges Taveira, from Santos Hostel (elected coordinator of ACS Jovem in an election held on June 3, 2014), takes over as head of ACS Jovem. The other members sworn in, for a one-year term, are: vice coordinator Guilherme Fonseca e Silva (Nautilus Logística Portuária); secretary Karoline Jorge (KJ Nutricional); projects secretary Renato Olival Fregonese (lawyer), and secretary of Institutional Relations Thiago Borges (Quality Soluções em Alimentação e Serviços).

Creation of the Sectoral Chamber of Freight Forwarders. Coordinator Darcy Franzese (National Association of Freight Forwarding Companies, Air Cargo Agents, Customs Brokers, and Intermodal Operators), Vice Coordinator Jorge Silva (Flipper Logística Internacional), and Secretary Fernando Reis (S. Magalhães S/A Logística em Comércio Exterior) are elected and sworn in.

The global president of the Aziende Riunite Caffè Tesoro-Tess Group visits the Santos Trade Association, accompanied by the general director of Aziende in Brazil, Paulo de Oliveira Santos.

The Santos Trade Association is honored at the closing of the 15th Congress of the Federation of Trade Associations of the State of São Paulo (Facesp) for being the oldest Trade Association in the State of São Paulo, as it celebrates 144 years on December 22, 2014. The congress is held in Águas de Lindóia, with the participation of over a thousand members of trade associations and entrepreneurs from the state.

The Dom Cabral Foundation (FDC), a member company of the Santos Trade Association, holds the 1st Dialogue with Entrepreneurs from the Baixada Santista (Santos Lowlands), with the theme:  "Financial Challenges in Times of Crisis," presented by Professor Geraldo Sardinha. The dialogue is an event designed for the exchange of experiences between members of the Partners for Excellence (Paex) in the Baixada Santista (Santos Lowlands) and other entrepreneurs to discuss topics relevant to organizational performance.

The coordination of the Real Estate and Construction Sectoral Chamber of the Santos Trade Association is elected. Coordinator: Lupércio Simão Conde from Engeterpa Engenharia Terraplanagem e Pavimentação. Vice Coordinator: José Ramón Crego Carnero from Crego e Painceira Construções e Empreendimentos Imobiliários. Secretary: Lúcia Ratto de Mesquita Roma from Missão Empreendimentos. The Real Estate and Construction Sectoral Chamber was created on July 15, 2014.

The so-called "Golden Book" of the Santos Trade Association (ACS), containing signatures of distinguished visitors since 1875, including Dom Pedro II, was restored. The restoration work was carried out by book and document restorer Adelia Maria Alcover from the Foundation Archive and Memory of Santos (FAMS) and handed over to ACS President Roberto Clemente Santini during a board meeting.

For the first time since the young group of the Santos Trade Association (ACS Jovem) was created in 2008, two women have taken office as coordinators. Tatiane Martins assumed the position of coordinator, and Manuela Santini as vice-coordinator for the 2016/2017 term, both elected unanimously.

During the re-election of Roberto Clemente Santini's board, for the first time, a woman joins the ACS board: 1st secretary-director Lúcia Maria Teixeira.

Modernization work at the Santos Trade Association is completed and delivered after one year and four months.

The Brazilian Chamber of Business Mediation and Arbitration is inaugurated at the ACS, in partnership with the Confederation of Trade and Business Associations of Brazil (CACB). The partnership was supported by OAB-Santos and the Retail Trade Union (Sincomércio).

The Santos Trade Association (ACS) welcomed business leaders and representatives from various sectors. The meeting marked the beginning of the creation of the Santos Economic Development Council (Condesan), aimed at planning economic development and job creation.

Mauro Sammarco is elected President of the Santos Trade Association in an ordinary general assembly for the 2020-2023 term. Here are the other members elected to the Executive Board of ACS: 1st vice president, Ronaldo Jamar Taboada, 2nd vice president, Alex Veríssimo Mendes, 1st chief financial officer, Rogério Mathias Conde, 2nd chief financial officer, Nívio Perez dos Santos, 1st director secretary, Noslen Lopes Botelho, 2nd director secretary, Marcelo Teixeira Filho, 1st alternate, Elber Alves Justo, 2nd alternate, Ricardo Molitzas. The Fiscal Council members are: Paulo Fernandes Filho, Luiz Roberto Colombo Barboza and Jorge Mariano. The alternates are Edmar de Oliveira Monteiro, Leonardo Felix Ribeiro and André Luiz Collacio Lettieri.

Aware of its institutional role and responsibility in the fight against the Coronavirus, the Santos Trade Association initiates a mobilization of the business community. The idea is to work in direct coordination with the crisis committee formed by the municipal administration to effectively contribute to vital areas of prevention and public assistance. The decision by ACS President Mauro Sammarco to mobilize the business community followed discussions with the directors and Mayor Paulo Alexandre Barbosa, who immediately considered the proposal important, necessary, and extremely positive. The mayor indicated the need for labor in the construction sector and support in acquiring basic supplies to expand the healthcare network for the infected. ACS, together with its members, collected basic food baskets to donate to needy families.

The future for the development and growth of Santos for the next 20 years begins to take shape. Based on the schedule established by former Mayor of Maringá, Silvio Barros, hired by the Santos Trade Association in conjunction with partners Assecob, Unisantos, and SinHores to assist throughout the process, working groups were created for the Santos Economic Development Council (Condesan) to plan the municipality's upcoming years and form a base of civil society representation to support public administration.

The Santos Trade Association (ACS) launched a new portal with a more modern, practical, and intuitive interface. Fully responsive and in accordance with the institution's guidelines, the portal serves as one of the ACS's primary communication channels with its target audience (members and clients).
One of the strengths of the new format is the content, presented in a user-friendly manner, making it easier for users to find information. The new website gathers the main information related to the ACS on its homepage, including history, institutional actions, and services offered by the institution.

Organized by the National Waterway Transportation Agency (Antaq), the public hearing discussing the privatization of the Port of Santos lasted nearly six hours and took place in the Auditorium of the Santos Trade Association.
The session, held in a hybrid format, had the presence of the Minister of Infrastructure, Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas.
In addition to the minister, port authorities, politicians, and representatives of the federal government participated. The goal of the hearing was to receive contributions to improve the documents related to the privatization. The concession period will be 35 years, which may be extended for up to five years.
The National Secretary of Ports and Waterway Transportation, Diogo Piloni, was responsible for presenting the details of the privatization process of the Port Authority of Santos.
According to the studies, the planned investments for the infrastructure adaptation of the Organized Port amount to R$ 16 million, spread over the contractual term.

The Coffee Classification and Tasting Course offered by the Santos Trade Association (ACS) has been completely revamped and modernized.
After the pandemic of 2020, the course was suspended for almost two years and returned in a hybrid format.
The classes, which consist of 40 hours in total, with 20 hours of theory in an online format and the remaining 20 hours in person, are taught by industry experts, and students delve into the world of coffee, learning about its history, agronomic aspects, cultivation methods, storage, coffee classification, and other related topics.

Reactivation of the Sectoral Chamber of Ship Suppliers and Services.
In the election, Gustavo Pierotti from G. Pierotti was chosen as the coordinator, Nilton Herrera Savaris Filho from Trapel Comércio de Pano de Limpeza Ltda as vice-coordinator, and Celio V. Emerenciano from Sea Star Fornecedor de Navios Ltda as the secretary of the chamber.

XXIII International Coffee Seminar of Santos.

A historic edition with a record number of participants.

510 participants from 21 countries.

Santos Trade Association creates its own Arbitration Chamber

Over the course of its 25-year journey, the Arbitration Law has become established in Brazil. As expected, since 2019, the Santos Trade Association has had an arbitration and mediation mechanism in partnership with the Arbitration Chamber of the Confederation of Trade Associations of Brazil – a private institution whose objective is to administer conflicts quickly and without resorting to the judiciary. However, with the aim of having more autonomy in management, decision-making, closer proximity to its associates, and faster processes, ACS announced the creation of its own Arbitration Chamber.

The official announcement was made through an Extraordinary General Assembly held at the ACS headquarters with the presence of associates.

With the aim of promoting debate and involving the region directly in the 2022 elections, the board of the Santos Trade Association, Grupo Tribuna, the Association of Civil Construction Entrepreneurs of Baixada Santista (Assecob), and the Brazilian Bar Association - Santos Subsection, held a series of candidate forums with the candidates for the Governor of the State of São Paulo and the Presidency of the Republic.
The in-person meetings provided candidates the opportunity to present their proposals to members and guests.
During this period, we hosted the following candidates: Vinicius Poit (Novo), Elvis Cezar (PDT), Tarcísio de Freitas (REP) and Rodrigo Garcia (PSDB), candidate for the Government of the State Luiz Felipe D’Ávila (Novo), candidate for the Presidency of the Republic.

The campaign "Vote Consciously, Vote for Your Region," in partnership with OAB-Santos and ASSECOB (Association of Entrepreneurs in Civil Construction of Baixada Santista), had the significant mission of, through effective actions, raising awareness among the population about the importance of voting for candidates from the Baixada Santista (Santos Lowlands), in order to directly benefit our region.

Over three months, we carried out various actions, including electoral forums that provided space for candidates running for Governor of the State of São Paulo and the Presidency of the Republic to present their proposals to our members.

We also led a campaign with digital content posted on our social media and sent via email to all our members, explaining about elected positions, promoting regional voting, and providing statistics from previous elections.
All these actions represent the ongoing effort of ACS to strengthen Brazilian democracy through public awareness, encouraging more eligible people to participate in elections, not abstaining from voting but instead exercising their right to vote, choosing candidates consciously based on their ideas and projects, and thereby increasing our region's representation.

After the first round of the 2022 Elections, the Baixada Santista maintained five State Deputies in the São Paulo State Legislative Assembly (ALESP) and doubled its representation in the Federal Chamber, with four Federal Deputies elected.

Launch of the Human Resources Management Committee during the International University-Enterprise Seminar.

The committee aims to create a collaborative environment for sharing knowledge and quality practices among ACS members in pursuit of excellence in Human Resources Management.

II International University-Enterprise Seminar

A unique edition that connected international speakers, representatives from universities, and business leaders with a single purpose: to think together about solutions, challenges, and opportunities for the region's future.

We brought together 3 continents and 8 countries to discuss a globally important topic:  employability, with North America, Europe, and Asia discussing the issue.

After the board of directors' deliberation, ACS solidified its affiliation with the ICC - International Chamber of Commerce, a non-governmental organization that works to promote and advise on international trade and globalization.

The partnership with ICC places ACS at the forefront of innovation in international trade, resulting in benefits for our members.

The book that tells the 150-year history of the Associação Comercial de Santos, now in digital version, is made available on the ACS website.

Click here to access the content!

In celebration of the 152-year history of the Santos Trade Association, its Marble Hall was completely revitalized, once again becoming the institution's main entrance and a cultural space for exhibitions.

The space features ornate golden details and other objects that make it even more imposing.

On the walls, you can find vintage images of the city of Santos, including the first headquarters of ACS, the first presidents, and the founders of the organization, Visconde de Vergueiro and Visconde do Embaré.

The decoration also includes antique furniture, with a replica of a telephone used in the late 19th century, revealing that ACS owned the number 1 line in Santos' history.

"Baixada Santista Magazine, Who Are We!"

Twenty sectors of Baixada Santista are highlighted in the magazine "Baixada Santista Magazine, Who Are We!", produced by the Santos Trade Association in partnership with political scientist Rodolfo Amaral and launched in December 2022.

The publication's aim is to present a socio-economic diagnosis of the Baixada Santista Metropolitan Region and make it available to authorities and society at large, contributing to thematic discussions in the search for collective solutions.

The magazine's data is official and organized within a historical period to allow for a detailed analysis of all the topics. Among the indicators, there is information on: Among the indicators are information about:
Elderly Population; Evolution of Current Revenue; Evolution of Value Added; Financial Scenarios of Baixada Santista (in R$); Evolution of formal jobs and MEIs (Individual Microentrepreneurs); Evolution of Retirements; Container movement at the Port of Santos; Industrial electricity consumption (in KWH/year); Evolution of electrical connections; DADE fund rights; Evolution of the vehicle fleet; Expansion of the truck fleet; Ecological ICMS in 2121; Expansion of the water and sewage economy network; FUNDEB resources in the RM (Metropolitan Region); Expenses on health with own resources; Beneficiaries of social programs; Housing production; Crime rates; and Enrollment in vocational education.

Delivery of the renovation of the old Library building, which now houses the Invest and Alegra Centro projects of the Santos City Hall.

Businessman Mário Sergio de Lucena Sammarco was reelected to lead the Santos Trade Association for another three years. In an assembly held at the organization's auditorium, Slate 1 (ACS in First Place) received 107 votes against 40 for Slate 2 (ACS for Everyone), the opposition.

"It's recognition for the work we do; we're on the right path. It shows great unity; now it's just one Association, moving forward with the support of the majority of members," commented Mauro.

Among the priorities of the elected president are the continuity of relevant agendas and initiatives for the economic and social growth and development of the region; the creation of a Collaborative Network among the members, in partnership with the Dom Cabral Foundation, and a special focus on technology, with the goal of making Santos an Innovation hub.

The members of the Executive Board were also elected: Elber Alves Justo (1st vice president), Carlos Alberto Fernandes Santana Junior (2nd vice president), Rogério Mathias Conde (1st chief financial officer), Roseneide Fassina (2nd chief financial officer), Marcelo Teixeira Filho (1st director secretary), Ricardo Molitzas (2nd director secretary), Evelyse Silva Lopes (1st alternate) and Luis Antonio Floriano (2nd alternate). This is the first time that two women hold prominent positions in the Board.

The Fiscal Council also took office and is composed of the titular members Jorge Mariano, Luiz Roberto Colombo Barboza, and Paulo Fernandes Filho, and the alternates Alex Veríssimo Mendes and André Luiz.

The Santos Trade Association hosted the ceremony for the delivery of the lease agreement for the area of warehouses 4, 5, and 6 by the Port Authority of Santos to the Municipal Government for the construction of Parque Valongo.

The event brought together the Minister of Ports and Airports, Márcio França, and Mayor Rogério Santos, as well as representatives from the Port Authority (SPA) and various authorities.

With the aim of discussing changes, improvements, and finding viable solutions for the road access to the Port of Santos, representatives from PGI – ARTESP, Ecovias, Highway Police, Port Authority, City Hall, and CET/Santos gathered at the headquarters of the Santos Trade Association.

The meeting, organized exclusively for members by ACS, was marked by a morning filled with discussions, knowledge exchange, and connections. It focused on the traffic flows, construction projects, and other aspects that impact the Anchieta-Imigrantes System, the city's entrance, the Alemoa District, the Perimetral, and the other internal roads of the Port.

Always a venue for important discussions, ACS has envisioned another significant step for the development of our region.