Uruguay reaffirms its strategic presence at one of the world’s most important agricultural and livestock fairs

On Thursday, September 4, Uruguay inaugurated its stand at the 48th edition of Expointer, the most important agricultural and livestock fair in Latin America and one of the largest open-air fairs in the world. The opening ceremony took place in the international pavilion and brought together more than a hundred people, including authorities, businesspeople, and institutional representatives from both countries.

The Uruguayan delegation was led by Alfredo Fratti, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries; Rodolfo Nin Novoa, Uruguayan ambassador to Brazil; and Marion Blanco, consul general in Porto Alegre. Representatives from public and private organizations such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uruguay XXI, INAC, INAVI, INALE, INIA, IICA, and the Union of Exporters, as well as a large business delegation, also participated.

On the Brazilian side, the inauguration was attended by Edivilson Brum, State Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Sustainable Production, and Irrigation, and his chief of staff, Joel Marraschin; José Cleber Días de Souza, Superintendent of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), and Claudia Silber, Director of International Relations for the Prefecture of Porto Alegre.

According to Ambassador Nin Novoa, Expointer is a strategic platform for Uruguay, allowing it to showcase the quality of its national production and strengthen ties with a key partner such as Brazil. The diplomat added that the relationship is going through an excellent moment and defined it as “a golden relationship: politically, commercially, and institutionally as fluid and close as rarely before.”

“We have joint challenges, the signing with EFTA, and then the trade chapter with Europe. He stressed that there is significant momentum and excellent prospects, which will benefit both Uruguayans and Brazilians,” he stressed.

Minister Alfredo Fratti, in turn, highlighted the value of the national presence in a highly dynamic market such as Rio Grande do Sul, and the need to open up new opportunities and investments to consolidate the country’s reputation as an exporter of safe, high-quality food. In this regard, he stated: “Expointer is the largest open-air exhibition in the world; it is a place where you have to be.”

The minister also emphasized the quality of the national offering. “We have excellent quality products. They have to be here and sold. Uruguay has to break out of its shell and go out into the world with what we have, which is very good,” he said.

He also valued the opportunities generated by the meeting with Brazilian counterparts. “The relationship with Brazil is so good that they respect and love us. Being here brings opportunities: biofuels, energy, and navigation-related businesses,” he said.

At the same time, Uruguay XXI accompanied a busy institutional agenda alongside the ambassador, the minister, the consul, counterparts from regional organizations and institutions, and the Brazilian government. These opportunities for dialogue on cooperation and investment projects continue to generate business opportunities for both parties and consolidate the country’s role as a proactive partner in building strategic links in the region.

Uruguay’s presence at Expointer is also supported by the magnitude of its economic relationship with Brazil. In 2024, national exports to that market reached US$ 2.325 billion, with a basket led by vehicles (19%), dairy products (12%), malt (11%), as well as rice, beef, and auto parts.

The state of Rio Grande do Sul, where the fair is held, is a particularly strategic partner: it accounted for 17% of total sales to Brazil, equivalent to US$ 383 million, with an emphasis on rice (33%), dairy products (21%), plastics (9%), barley (6%), and wheat (4%). In turn, Uruguayan imports from Brazil focused on vehicles (26%), meat (9%), machinery (7%), and plastics (5%), reflecting the complementary nature of production between the two countries.

Uruguay has consolidated an international reputation as a reliable exporter of safe, traceable, and sustainable food. These attributes are backed by a pioneering traceability system, animal welfare, and care for natural resources. These standards allow the tracking of each product from its origin to the final consumer, which strengthens confidence in the most demanding markets.

The inauguration of the stand in Esteio was also a valuable networking opportunity, with more than a hundred attendees, including authorities, businesspeople, and institutional leaders. The space combined commercial promotion with cultural and gastronomic expressions that captivated the public: live tango music and a tasting of meats, empanadas, tannat wines, and dulce de leche, symbols of Uruguayan identity that reinforced the country’s positioning as a reliable and culturally vibrant partner.