📅 15–16 July 2026
Montevideo, Uruguay
The UNIDO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean 2026 will address the main challenges and opportunities facing the region in a global context shaped by the green transition, digital transformation, and the reconfiguration of value chains, with a clear focus on moving from vision to action towards 2030.
The Conference will bring together high-level government authorities, multilateral organizations, the private sector, financial institutions, and international experts to define a shared roadmap towards more sustainable, inclusive, and competitive industrialization across the region.
Latin America and the Caribbean stand at an inflection point. Globally, industrial systems are being transformed by technological acceleration, geopolitical fragmentation, and the reorganization of production across regions. Supply chains are becoming increasingly regionalized, more standards-driven, and ever more influenced by considerations of resilience, sustainability, and risk management.
In this context, there is a clear need to renew dialogue, strengthen coordination, and undertake strategic actions that position Latin America and the Caribbean competitively in the global economy.
The Conference takes place within the framework of Industrial Policy Week, an initiative led by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining of Uruguay, with the participation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay and the collaboration of the Uruguayan Agency for International Cooperation, during which the country’s new Industrial Policy is officially presented. In this way, both milestones — the launch of the national policy and the Regional Conference — are brought together in the same week, reinforcing their impact and strategic relevance. The organization of the Conference also benefits from the support of the Government of Uruguay.
The Regional Conference will offer a high-level platform for governments and partners to align priorities, share experiences and catalyze action towards inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The two‑day Conference will be structured around high‑level plenary sessions, ministerial dialogues, thematic panels and partnership‑focused sessions.
Day 1 – Setting the Vision for Competitive and Sustainable Industrialization in LAC
Discussions will focus on:
- Future‑ready industrial policies in a changing global context;
- Enhancing competitiveness and market access in regional value chains, including a MERCOSUR perspective;
- Green Industrial Finance: Mobilizing Investment and Accelerating Decarbonization and opportunities in the critical minerals sector.
Day 2 – Delivering Industrial Transformation at Scale
Sessions will address:
- Digitalization and artificial intelligence for industrial upgrading, including the launch of the LAC Chapter of the Global Alliance on Artificial Intelligence for Industry and Manufacturing (AIM Global);
- Circular economy as a driver of industrial transformation in LAC;
- Clean technology innovation and climate‑resilient industrial development, including the launch of a Call for Proposals for LAC of UNIDO’s Adaptation Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Innovation Facility (ASIF).
Dedicated South–South and Triangular Cooperation and partnership sessions will be convened on the margins of the Conference to support matchmaking and follow‑up actions.
