Uruguay promotes tourism and new ties at Expo Osaka

Uruguay is moving forward with its participation in Expo Osaka 2025, with a new official mission taking place from September 22 to 27. The delegation is led by the Undersecretary of Tourism, Ana Claudia Caram, and the mayor of Canelones, Francisco Legnani. The aim is to boost the country’s tourism promotion and initiate the twinning process between Canelones and Osaka, a key step in deepening cooperation ties.

The mission began with a tour of the Uruguay Pavilion, accompanied by the Uruguayan ambassador to Japan, Victoria Francolino; the consul general in Tokyo, Maximiliano da Silva; and the Uruguayan commissioner at the Expo, Benjamín Liberoff. There, they highlighted the space’s role as a business, tourism, and culture platform.

Afterwards, they visited some of the most innovative pavilions at the Expo. In the Saudi Arabia pavilion, designed by Foster + Partners, they saw an architectural proposal that integrates tradition, sustainability, and technological innovation. In the Baltic pavilion, conceived by Latvian artist Artūrs Analts, they toured the interactive installation “Wall of the Future,” which symbolizes cooperation between nature, technology, and community. The day ended with a visit to the joint pavilion of the Iida Group and Osaka Metropolitan University, which combines Japanese tradition and sustainable urban planning technologies with an innovative concept of a “smart city” focused on well-being.

In the coming days, the Uruguayan delegation will hold meetings with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Osaka government officials, and the Osaka Tourism Bureau. It is also planning visits to leading pavilions, such as those of France, Japan, Belgium, and the Women’s Pavilion, and meetings with leading companies such as Hitachi, Kawasaki, and Sumitomo.

A highlight of the agenda will be the event scheduled for Wednesday, September 24, in the afternoon. The Uruguay Pavilion will welcome guests from the press, business leaders, and local authorities for a tasting of Uruguayan wines and olive oils. The event aims to promote the quality of Uruguayan products in Japan and reinforce the country’s image as a destination of excellence in gastronomy and tourism.

The agenda also includes activities to promote Uruguayan wine, participation in Saudi Arabia’s National Day, visits to innovation spaces such as the Osaka Innovation Hub, and meetings with Japanese media outlets.

A continuous presence since April

This new mission is in addition to Uruguay’s sustained participation in Expo 2025 Osaka. The country inaugurated its pavilion on April 14, an 80-square-meter space based on innovation, sustainability, and interactive design. Since then, the stand has remained a showcase for the country’s main attributes regarding investment, exports, and culture.

In June, Uruguay celebrated one of the most notable milestones of its participation: National Day, led by the Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Alfredo Fratti, with a large public-private delegation. That day reaffirmed the country’s projection on the global stage and marked the beginning of an intense agenda that is now being consolidated with this new chapter aimed at strengthening tourism and cooperation ties.