The Canary and Uruguayan Governments Sign a New Memorandum of Understanding, Establishing a “Stable and Permanent” Framework for Cooperation
The Canary Islands and Uruguay have renewed their historic alliance, establishing new objectives suited to the challenges of the 21st century, including sustainability, heritage, co-governance, innovation, and talent. This agreement was reached on Thursday with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding by the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, and the President of the Uruguayan Agency for International Cooperation (AUCI), Alejandro Sánchez. This new agreement replaces the one that has been in place for 24 years.
The document “reaffirms the historical, cultural, and friendly links that have united the Canary Islands and Uruguay for over three centuries,” while establishing a “stable and permanent” framework for collaboration to promote joint initiatives in strategic areas for both territories. It updates the Memorandum signed on June 25, 2002, by the then President of the Canary Islands, Román Rodríguez.
After signing the agreement, Clavijo and Sánchez both stressed the importance of updating the alliance with 21st-century instruments. The aim is to maintain the collaborative efforts seen in recent years while also setting new collaborative challenges to “build our future together.”
The President of the Canary Islands noted that the new Memorandum coincides with the commemoration of the founding of Montevideo, marking 300 years of unity between the Canary Islands and Uruguay. He emphasised the importance of sharing experiences and learning from each other, citing the positive administrative silence implemented in Uruguay to streamline bureaucratic processes as an example.
Clavijo announced plans to organise joint sessions with Uruguay in November to follow up on the agreement signed on Thursday and to strengthen collaborative ties between universities, businesses, and social sectors.
Strategic Areas of Collaboration
In this context, the Memorandum prioritises environmental sustainability, energy transition, the circular economy, and climate resilience, with initiatives focused on protecting natural resources, biodiversity, and ecosystems.
The agreement further incorporates joint areas of work in public health, biotechnology, agriculture, social welfare, and the environment, along with public governance, sustainable urban planning, mobility, housing, resilient infrastructure, and modernisation of public services.
There is also a commitment to collaborate on cultural heritage, cultural and creative industries, digital transformation and emerging technologies, along with training programmes, research, and knowledge transfer. Both the Canary Islands and Uruguay will promote the exchange of experiences and studies in sustainable tourism.
Engaging with the Uruguayan Community
The agenda for President Clavijo’s first day in Uruguay also included a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rodrigo Goñi. Following their discussion, both highlighted the significant influence of the Canary community in Uruguayan society, with familial, cultural, and social ties remaining alive throughout the country.
Canary Islands-Uruguay Forum
After the institutional meetings, Clavijo chaired the ‘Canary Islands-Uruguay Forum: From Origin to Future’ in Montevideo. Speaking to over a hundred Uruguayan institutional authorities, business representatives, and civil society members, Fernando Clavijo outlined the roadmap set by his government to strengthen collaboration between the two territories with shared pasts, presents, and futures.
In his remarks, the president highlighted the importance of seizing the tricentennial of the joint path between Uruguay and the Canary Islands – noting that Montevideo was founded in 1726 with the help of islanders – to “continue advancing together in an increasingly interconnected world” where collaboration is key.
He asserted that the Memorandum signed just hours earlier with the Uruguayan government reaffirms both territories’ commitment to working in unison towards shared goals, including sustainability, technological innovation, and knowledge exchange in research.
According to him, this agreement represents “more than a bureaucratic update. It reaffirms what began when ninety-six Canarians crossed the Atlantic to found a city” three centuries ago. He added that the aim is for “the Canary Islands and Uruguay not only to share history but to build a future together.”
Clavijo emphasised the significant opportunities that the Canary Islands offer as an intercontinental platform for Uruguayan companies aiming to enter international markets in Europe and Africa. Supported by a promotional video from Proexca, he highlighted the fiscal advantages of the archipelago and the established business network in the islands.
In particular, he invited Uruguayan companies to join the Canary Latam Tech immersion programme, initiated by the public Canary company to facilitate the establishment of technology, audiovisual, and industrial innovation projects in the archipelago.
The ‘Canary Islands-Uruguay Forum: From Origin to Future’ was attended by ministers and high-ranking officials from the Uruguayan government. Also present were mayors from provinces with the highest numbers of descendants of Canary migrants (Montevideo, Canelones, Maldonado, and Rocha), as well as numerous representatives from legislative chambers, political parties, business associations, and unions across the country.
From an economic perspective, the event took place at the Spanish Embassy in Uruguay, led by Javier Salido, and saw the participation of representatives from over 50 Uruguayan and Spanish companies established in the country.
Throughout this forum and during his first day of meetings in Uruguay and Argentina, the president was accompanied by the rest of the Canary government delegation, including the Vice-Councillor of the Presidency, Alfonso Cabello; the Deputy Chief of Staff, Octavio Caraballo; and the General Director of Emigration, José Tellez.
