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Ouro Preto Chamber of Commerce (ACEOP)
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Welcome from the President
"Welcome to Ouro Preto. Commerce stands out for its importance in the economic scenario, not only for the potential to generate jobs, income and taxes, but also for the dynamism of the entrepreneur, also responsible for the preservation of our heritage."
Rosângela de Cássia Saraiva Ambrósio
President of the Chamber
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Short History of the
Chamber of Commerce
In the mid-1930s, the urge of associating on the part of the shop owners of old Vila Rica comes into reality under the leadership of two precursors: Manoel Felipe Ribeiro Belo and Levindo Barbosa Leite.
On january 28th, 1934, the session of foundation of the CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (Associação Comercial Industrial e Agropecuária de Ouro Preto-ACIAOP) is held at the Cine Central movie theater, when a preliminary committee is formed with Levindo Barbosa Leite, José Cândido Gonçalves and Geraldino Dias.
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The draft of the bylaws is presented on february 4th, 1934 and appointed the first board of directors and counselors.
In a session held at the City Hall on february 8th, 1934, Dr. João Batista Ferreira Veloso, mayor of the time, officially installs the board of directors composed of Washington de Araújo Dias, president; José da Costa Carvalho, vice-president; Antônio Ramos, vice-president; José Amarante Neves, secretary; Geraldo Ramos, secretary; João Batista Fortes, treasurer; Levindo Barbosa Leite, solicitor.
As of february, 25th, resolution is passed toward direct elections for the board of directors that eventually confirmed in office, on march 4th, the members of that first board.
The efforts directed toward the construction of the headquarters building succeeded on may 19th, when the associates obtain a permit from the City Hall to erect a building on the place where once stood the old house that belonged to "TIRADENTES", leader of the would-be revolution of colonial Vila Rica.
The construction of the headquarters was financed by means of a loan raised among the associates, in the amount of 80.000$000 (eighty contos de réis, the currency of the time). The solemn session of inauguration is held on the 26th of april of 1935.
In over seventy years of activities, prominent personalities of the Ouro Preto business community have directed the destinies of the Chamber, leading it to reach a great stand as a business representative organization and substantial political, economical and social prestige in its diverse fields of actions along the different periods of the economic history of Ouro Preto.
Today, when the strength of tourism represents a new economic cycle for the former Vila Rica, as mining and metallurgy had been in the previous three hundred years, the CHAMBER OF COMMERCE continues to contribute in an expressive way for the economic and social development of its community, with valuable initiatives such as this Ouro Preto Official Tourism Website, through its Cultural Institute and the Convention & Visitors Bureau, sharing with all the world the riches and the culture of this town that is UNESCO´s Cultural Heritage of Mankind.
Chamber of Commerce
Rua São José 132 - Centro - Cep 35400-000 - Ouro Preto - MG - Brazil
Telefax: 55 31 3551-1469
e-mail: atendimento@ouropreto.org.br
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