Montevideo, Uruguay, 14 July 2026 – On his mission to Latin America, the Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Gerd Müller visited Uruguay. He participated in the opening of the national Industry Week and launch of Uruguay’s new Industrial Policy 2050 alongside the Secretary of the Presidency, Alejandro Sánchez, and Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Fernanda Cardona. Together with Minister Cardona, DG Müller also signed a new cooperation agreement to further strengthen the long-standing, strong cooperation on sustainable industrial development.
In his remarks at the launch of Uruguay’s Industrial Policy 2025, Müller commended Uruguay for its outstanding leadership in the energy transition and green industrialization, with 97 per cent of the country’s electricity generated through renewable energy sources. With the new Industrial Policy, Uruguay has developed a strategic and ambitious roadmap designed to strengthen the productive capabilities of the country, promote value addition, generate quality employment, and enhance the participation of Uruguay in global economic transformations.
Supporting Uruguay in implementing this new and ambitious roadmap is also a cornerstone of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNIDO and MIEM which DG Müller and Minister Cardona signed after the launch event. This five-year agreement establishes a comprehensive framework for cooperation aimed at promoting inclusive and sustainable industrial development.
Key pillars of this strategic alliance include:
Industrial Policy 2050: Technical assistance and policy advisory services to support the design and implementation of the long-term industrial vision of Uruguay.
Decarbonization and Circular Economy: Collaborative efforts to transition toward low carbon production systems and resilient industrial models.
South-South Cooperation: Leveraging initiatives like the SDG 9 Accelerator to position Uruguay as a regional reference point for sustainable industrial practices.
Knowledge generation: Joint development of analytical products, including policy briefs and technical reports, to support evidence-based policymaking.
The Director General thanked the Minister for the great cooperation and for hosting UNIDO’s regional conference for Latin America and the Caribbean as part of Uruguay’s industry week.
The Director General also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Mario Lubetkin. Creating real win-win situations to accelerate sustainable economic growth through regional integration, trade and investment was at the center of their discussion, with Uruguay currently holding the pro tempore Presidency of MERCOSUR. DG Müller assured Minister Lubetkin of UNIDO’s commitment to support Uruguay and all MERCOSUR countries with technical expertise in areas such as market access, quality infrastructure, the circular economy and industrial decarbonization.
At the regional level, and as part of the broader Industry Week agenda, UNIDO is convening the Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean 2026 on 15 and 16 July in cooperation with the Government of Uruguay, as host country. The Conference will bring together policymakers, private sector representatives and development partners from across the region to discuss industrial policy, productive transformation and regional cooperation. It will provide an important platform to strengthen dialogue, share experiences and advance common priorities for inclusive and sustainable industrial development.
Background:
The launch of Uruguay’s Industrial Policy 2050 takes place within the framework of the Industry Week (13–16 July), an initiative led by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM) with the support and technical cooperation of UNIDO. Throughout the week, government authorities, international experts, private sector representatives and development partners will engage in discussions on the policies, skills, technologies and partnerships needed to support innovation, enhance competitiveness, promote sustainability and foster inclusive growth.
The Industrial Policy builds on the dialogue fostered through the Uruguay Sur Initiative, a multi-stakeholder platform that helped shape a long-term vision for sustainable growth, innovation and productive transformation. UNIDO contributed technical inputs on green industrialization, industrial modernization and circular economy, supporting the Industrial Policy 2050 process and strengthening the role of Uruguay as a platform for policy dialogue, demonstration and South-South and triangular cooperation
The current UNIDO portfolio includes initiatives on innovative finance for renewable energy, circular economy and the implementation of the Kigali Amendment. These projects complement the broader industrial policy agenda by linking long-term strategy with practical solutions for clean energy, resource efficiency and climate action.
Building on the institutional stability, skilled human capital, advanced digital infrastructure and strong renewable energy base of the country, the partnership will now focus on translating the Industrial Policy into concrete programmes, investment and technical cooperation. It will also reinforce the role of Uruguay as a regional platform for demonstration, policy exchange and South-South and triangular cooperation on sustainable industrial development.
