The Trade, Industry, and Service Providers' Association of Novo Hamburgo, Campo Bom and Estância Velha - ACI-NH/CB/EV is a non-profit trade entity that began operations in 1920. We are located in city of Novo Hamburgo, also known as the "Brazilian Footwear Capital" in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Created in function of the city's strong commerce, the entity was originally called the Commercial Association of Novo Hamburgo by its founders.

Later in 1961 with the development of local industry, the entity added the word "industrial" to its name. In 1990, with the advance of the services sector, the entity became registered as the Commercial, Industrial and Services Association of Novo Hamburgo, and was more commonly known as the Businessman's Firm.

When ACI initiated operations in Campo Bom on April 27, 2000 and when Estância Velha initiated operations on July 1, 2002, the entity became known as the Commercial, Industrial and Services Association of Novo Hamburgo, Campo Bom and Estância Velha, a title that was defined by the strategy and expansion of the market within which the Entity operates.

Since its foundation, ACI has been responsible for the implementation of important actions in the Vale do Sinos history, including: assistance with the modernization and expansion of the Novo Hamburgo telephone network, the installation of the 3rd Military Police Battalion, the creation of Ciretran, Consepro, Novo Hamburgo Cia of General Services, Fenac as well as the Feevale University Center, among other important accomplishments.

The Entity acted decisively in nearly all of the successful undertakings of the Vale do Sapateiro, in addition to rendering services to its partners.

Many institutional actions were carried out, for example: Action 21- The Retaking and Development of Novo Hamburgo; the creation of the Novo Hamburgo Development Agency and the Vale do Sinos Business Chamber; the Capable People Project (Projeto Gente Capaz), which trains qualified labor for the Novo Hamburgo footwear industry and a partnership with the state government in the participation of fairs and other governmental programs.

The Entity's history is endorsed by the prestige that it holds within the business and governmental arena. It is recognized as a municipal public utility institution (municipal law no. 21.175 from 07/08/75.) Currently, it has the largest number of associates (more than 1,200) of any entity within the State of Rio Grande do Sul, with an excellent credibility record in regards to its actions and orientations with its associates.

The principal focus of the entity is the rendering of services in the business sector. However, during the course of its history, the entity has also become concerned with social and community action. It therefore decided to create both a Social and an Environmental Council. These Councils were created to serve as deliberative, strategic institutions designed to deal with related issues. This event gave origin to the Fundação Semear (social) and the Environmental Fundamental Development Foundation (environment).

ACI received the Rio Grande do Sul Quality Award - Bronze medal from the Rio Grande do Sul Quality and Productivity Program (PGQP). The PGQP has promoted the RS Quality Award since 1996 to provide incentive to companies from the region that excel in Quality Management. It is an instrument for recognizing those companies that demonstrate, through specialized evaluations, a management model that operates in harmony with the evaluation system criteria adopted by PGQP.

According to Luiz Carlos Marques, former ACI president (1999-2001), the award is the ratification of a management philosophy. "Because we are propagating this action, there is nothing more fitting than for us to set the example. Another determining factor is the entity's team spirit, as our employee are certainly not lacking in motivation and mobilization. There was a true commitment on everyone's part", Marquez said.

The participating companies are evaluated on seven different criteria: leadership, strategic planning, client and market focus, information and analysis, human resources management, and processes and results management.

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UNIT´s

Novo Hamburgo
Rua Joaquim Pedro Soares, 540
Novo Hamburgo - RS, Brazil
Phone: +55 (51) 3594-4044
Fax: +55 (51) 3595-2134
Mail: acinh@acinh.com.br

Campo Bom
Rua Dos Andradas, 470
Campo Bom - RS, Brazil
Phone: +55 (51) 3597-4511
Fax: +55 (51) 3597-8301
Mail: campobom@acinh.com.br

Estância Velha
Av: Sete de Setembro, 323
Estância Velha - RS, Brazil
Phone: +55 (51) 3551-1100
Fax: +55 (51) 3551-8910
Mail:estanciavelha@acinh.com.br