Uruguay XXI boosted investments and promoted Country Brand licensing in Agro en Punta

Agro en Punta marked a milestone for the agro-export sector with an event in Punta del Este that sought to consolidate Uruguay’s position as a center for business and innovation in agriculture and sustainability.

Through the Country Brand management, Uruguay XXI inaugurated a country booth with the presence of the Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Fernando Mattos, the president of the National Wine Institute (INAVI), Ricardo Cabrera, the president of the National Meat Institute (INAC), Conrado Ferber, and the executive director of Uruguay XXI, Sebastián Risso.

The stand was the stage for attendees to discover why Uruguay is a recognized business and innovation hub and an exceptional agribusiness and food investment destination.

With a focus on sustainability and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) factors that are an integral part of the country’s promotion policy, the stand offered a tasting of chivitos with Uruguayan meat, prepared by chef Sebastián Barcos and national wines from sustainable wineries, accompanied by the promotional sector brands Uruguay Wine and Uruguay Meats.

Minister Mattos highlighted the importance of the Uruguay brand in the international promotion of the country. The minister thanked Uruguay XXI for its collaboration in attracting investment and opening new markets. He also announced signing a decree authorizing the production of dealcoholized wine, an initiative that responds to international consumption trends and highlights Uruguay’s commitment to productive innovation.

“This serves a parcel of the market like other non-alcoholic beverages. It is a fermented grape product from which the alcohol is later removed and which, in some countries, occupies 25% or 30% of the market, so we could not fail to take this forward with the initiative of Uruguayan winemakers who are going to dedicate themselves to this area of production,” he said.

The president of INAC highlighted the significance of the fair as a window to the world to show the quality of Uruguayan products, hoping that it will become a consolidated event that will attract international attention, while the president of INAVI expressed his gratitude during the inauguration of Agro en Punta and highlighted the attraction that Uruguayan wines and meat always generate.

The tasting during the inauguration of the stand was accompanied by the wineries Finca Piedra, Toscanini e hijos, Giménez Méndez, Finca Las Violetas, and Familia Deicas, which are part of the Sustainable Viticulture Program certified by INAVI and was developed to promote environmentally friendly viticulture, minimizing risks in working conditions and health of workers in the sector and providing a safe production of raw material for winemaking.

In addition, the companies that participated in the meeting could learn at the stand about the licensing for companies that Marca País launched last year. This license, which allows companies to use the Uruguay - LSQA seal, recognizes the values of leadership, management, origin, and export capacity of Uruguayan companies. So far, more than 80 companies have received their certificate, and this year, the Enjoy Hotel in Punta del Este got the first license. This distinction positions companies as representatives of Uruguay abroad, strengthening their presence in international markets.

Agro en Punta, Uruguay’s first agro-export fair, was held at the Punta del Este Convention Center and offered forums and an agro-industrial exhibition. All of its activity focused on how Uruguay promotes sustainability and preserves its biodiversity through sustainable agricultural practices, adopting renewable energies, and technological innovation applied to agriculture.

Participants included the President of the Republic, Luis Lacalle Pou, Vice President Beatriz Argimón, and the Ministers of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Fernando Mattos, Foreign Affairs, Omar Paganini and Environment, Robert Bouvier.

Uruguay XXI showcased Uruguay as a stable, innovative, and highly competitive business environment that offers the world safe, traceable, and reliable food products and presents attractive opportunities for investors focused on sustainable growth.