Uruguay Collaborates with Departmental Governments for Prominent Participation at Expo Osaka 2025

To coordinate the country’s participation in the Osaka 2025 Expo, which will begin in April, the commissioner appointed for Uruguay in this event, Benjamín Liberoff, together with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Country Brand of Uruguay XXI, held an informative meeting with departmental authorities from all over the country. The meeting presented details about the universal exposition and explored the different modalities of participation available to departmental governments and companies.

The municipalities’ representatives expressed their interest in the initiative and highlighted their history of cooperation with Japan, expressing their willingness to join the mission in various ways. During the meeting, Liberoff thanked the participants for their presence and reaffirmed his commitment to effectively representing the country on this important global platform. She also introduced the representatives of Marca País, Larissa Perdomo, and Mariana Cabrera, who were in charge of the official presentation.

“Just as we worked for the previous exhibitions in Dubai, Shanghai, and Milan, we face an important challenge this year. Expo Osaka 2025 represents a great opportunity to give Uruguay visibility,” said Perdomo. The Country Brand Director emphasized Japan’s strategic role in international trade and pointed out that in 2023, it ranked fifth in the world exporters ranking, with a total trade of US$719 billion, according to data from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

Perdomo explained that bilateral trade between Uruguay and Japan has varied over time and currently occupies 32nd place in Uruguay’s destinations ranking. In 2023, our exports to that country totaled US$62.9 million, representing 0.6% of total exports. “Although meat is a key product, other sectors such as precious stones, wines, and by-products such as caviar also have potential,” he explained.

Regarding the logistics of participation, Perdomo reported on the facilities the Uruguayan stand would offer within a pavilion shared with other countries, including product display areas, interactive screens, and a wine bar. “We will not be bringing printed material, but audiovisual and digital material, aligning ourselves with the sustainability strategy promoted by Marca País and Uruguay XXI,” she added.

The representative also highlighted that a meeting room would be available for sponsors and authorities and revealed that Uruguay would have two key dates at the Expo: the inauguration on April 14 and Uruguay Day on June 17, a day for which an official delegation and another business delegation organized by Uruguay XXI are planned.

“There are various ways for sponsors to participate, from brand presence at the stand to attendance at formal and commercial events. All the information is available on the Expo Osaka website and social networks,” he said.

For his part, Liberoff emphasized the importance of considering Uruguay’s participation in a broader context than just Japan. ”The focus should be on the entire Southeast Asian region. The exports of each department are essential for the departmental and the national economy,” he said.

The commissioner also stressed that Expo Osaka will be organized around thematic weeks, addressing various issues such as culture, food, and the environment. ‘The local authorities will be able to evaluate which of these weeks is the most appropriate for presenting their offer and experiences,’ he concluded.

In this sense, he emphasized that many Uruguayan departments have already benefited from Japanese cooperation through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a link that they now have the opportunity to increase or develop. Several local governments will also be able to position their region for tourism and investment, taking advantage of the global stage offered by Expo Osaka 2025.

Under the slogan “Designing tomorrow’s society, imagining our lives tomorrow,” Expo Osaka 2025 is shaping up to be a key platform for Uruguay to project its leadership in innovation, sustainability, and foreign trade, consolidating its presence in strategic markets and strengthening its image globally.

Find out more about Uruguay’s participation in Expo Osaka here