Uruguay signs agreement with Slovenia to strengthen trade and investment during mission at Expo Osaka 2025

Uruguay and Slovenia took a key step toward deepening their economic ties with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Uruguay XXI, the country’s trade, investment, and nation branding agency, and SPIRIT Slovenia Business Development Agency, its Slovenian counterpart.

The agreement was signed during the public-private mission representing Uruguay at Expo Osaka 2025, which was organized around the celebration of Uruguay Day at the Expo. The mission brought together government officials, state agencies, exporting companies, and members of the diplomatic corps in Japan.

Deputy Executive Director Martín Mercado represented Uruguay XXI, while SPIRIT Slovenia was represented by Lana Švab from the Internationalization Promotion Sector, on behalf of acting director Tamara Zajec Balažič. Both institutions are working on a joint action plan to be developed under the newly signed agreement.

The memorandum outlines a commitment to exchange information on foreign direct investment opportunities, promote bilateral trade, and enhance the visibility of both countries’ business ecosystems. Following the signing, both delegations visited the Uruguay and Slovenia pavilions at the Expo, symbolically marking the beginning of a new phase of cooperation grounded in sustainability, innovation, and dialogue between the public and private sectors.

The agreement also builds on a relationship that has grown stronger during the Expo, where Uruguay and Slovenia share proximity in Pavilion Commons C and have carried out various joint activities, helping to strengthen ties between the two delegations.

The signing occurred as part of a high-level national mission led by Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries Alfredo Fratti. It included officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transportation and Public Works, the Uruguayan Embassy in Japan, Uruguay XXI, ANDE, CND, INALOG, INAC, INAVI, and representatives of more than twenty private companies.

The mission’s agenda, centered around celebrating Uruguay National Day on June 17 at Expo Osaka, included cultural, diplomatic, and business activities aimed at strengthening Uruguay’s positioning as a reliable partner, a leader in sustainable production, and an open destination for foreign investment.

Among the highlights was the business seminar “Why Uruguay?”, held in collaboration with JETRO Osaka. Minister Fratti and the deputy director of Uruguay XXI presented the country’s national strategy for attracting high-quality investment, emphasizing its renewable energy matrix, certified low-carbon agricultural production, and institutional stability as a business platform for Latin America.

With this agreement, Uruguay expands its cooperation horizons toward Central and Eastern Europe, diversifying its markets and reinforcing its focus on high-value-added investments. The understanding reflects a shared vision of sustainable development and innovation, aligned with the theme of Expo Osaka 2025: “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”