The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Government of Uruguay have strengthened their long-standing partnership by signing a new five-year cooperation agreement aimed at supporting the country’s Industrial Policy 2050 and accelerating sustainable industrial development.
The agreement was signed in Montevideo by UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller and Uruguay’s Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Fernanda Cardona, during the opening of Industry Week and the official launch of Uruguay’s new long-term industrial strategy.
Uruguay’s Industrial Policy 2050 provides a roadmap for strengthening the country’s productive capacity, promoting value-added industries, creating quality jobs, and increasing competitiveness in the global economy. The strategy also builds on Uruguay’s leadership in renewable energy, with approximately 97% of the country’s electricity generated from renewable sources, positioning the nation as a regional leader in green industrialisation.
Under the new Memorandum of Understanding, UNIDO will provide technical assistance and policy support for implementing the Industrial Policy 2050. The partnership will focus on promoting industrial decarbonisation, advancing the circular economy, strengthening sustainable manufacturing, and supporting evidence-based policymaking through research, technical reports, and policy analysis.
Another key area of cooperation will be South-South collaboration, with initiatives such as the SDG 9 Accelerator helping position Uruguay as a regional hub for sharing sustainable industrial development practices and fostering cooperation across Latin America and the Caribbean.
During his visit, Director General Gerd Müller also met with Uruguay’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mario Lubetkin, to discuss opportunities for expanding regional trade, investment, and industrial cooperation. As Uruguay currently holds the rotating presidency of MERCOSUR, discussions focused on strengthening regional integration through improved market access, quality infrastructure, industrial decarbonisation, and circular economy initiatives.
As part of Industry Week, UNIDO is also hosting the Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean 2026 in partnership with the Government of Uruguay. The conference brings together government leaders, private sector representatives, and development partners to discuss industrial policy, innovation, sustainability, and regional economic cooperation.
The strengthened partnership builds on UNIDO’s existing projects in Uruguay, including programmes supporting renewable energy financing, circular economy initiatives, and climate action through the implementation of the Kigali Amendment. These efforts complement the country’s long-term industrial strategy by promoting clean technologies, resource efficiency, and sustainable economic growth.
The new cooperation agreement marks an important step in advancing Uruguay’s industrial transformation agenda. By combining policy support, technical expertise, and regional collaboration, UNIDO and Uruguay aim to foster innovation, attract investment, strengthen industrial competitiveness, and promote inclusive and sustainable economic development across the country and the wider Latin American region.
