Flag-Raising Ceremony for the Oriental Republic of Uruguay

INBAR welcomes its 51^st Member State, the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.

On 28 November 2024, INBAR celebrated the accession of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay into the INBAR family. Delegates from INBAR, the Embassy of Uruguay in China, the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay, the Embassy of Nepal in China, and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA) of China were invited to take part in a Flag-Raising Ceremony held at INBAR Headquarters in Beijing, China.

H.E. Mr. Fernando Mattos, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay, delivered a video speech. Ms. Sabita Nakarmi, Counselor of the Embassy of Nepal on behalf of the Chair of the 13^th INBAR Council, Mr. Gao Hongdian, Forest and Grassland Fire Prevention Inspector of the NFGA of China, and Mr. Carlos Faroppa, Director General of the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay, attended and delivered speeches. Lu Wenming, Deputy Director General of INBAR, presided over the Flag-Raising Ceremony.

On behalf of the Chair of the 13^th INBAR Council, Nakarmi welcomed and congratulated the new Member State of Uruguay on its accession to the INBAR network. She said that INBAR has vigorously promoted bamboo and rattan under the framework of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, enhanced people’s awareness of the potential of bamboo and rattan resources and exerted an important impact on many countries in the Global South. As people’s awareness of the extraordinary value of bamboo and rattan continues to increase, more countries will continue to join INBAR. We look forward to more countries learning from Uruguay’s experiences in promoting the development of the bamboo and rattan industry and contributing to green recovery in the post-pandemic era.

Gao said that Uruguay joining INBAR will not only promote the sustainable development and utilization of Uruguay’s bamboo and rattan resources, but also generate new opportunities and open a new road for future forestry cooperation between China and Uruguay. The NFGA of China will continue to deepen its multilateral and bilateral forestry cooperation with Uruguay under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative, innovate new collaborative methods models and actively strive for win-win results. As INBAR’s focal point in the Host Country, the NFGA will, as always, fully support the development and growth of INBAR, attract more like-minded new members to join and continue to promote the implementation of the Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic Initiative.

Mattos stated that today is a historic moment for Uruguay. Uruguay’s formal joining of INBAR has opened a new journey of natural resource protection and rising to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The popularization of bamboo development and utilization methods such as bamboo-plastic products, bamboo buildings and bamboo handicrafts have made it possible for Uruguay to diversify its economic activities. He sincerely thanked all parties for their support and help in the process of Uruguay acceding to INBAR.

Faroppa mentioned that this moment represents a new commitment from Uruguay and China, as both countries together advance their sustainable development efforts. He highlighted INBAR as an example of collective efforts contributing to global sustainability. In Uruguay, the forestry sector impacts thousands of people, with the country witnessing significance growth in recent years. At the same time, Uruguay has a long tradition of caring for its national resources as a deforestation-free country. Uruguay is now tapping into bamboo as an emergent resource with great potential for sustainable development, social inclusion and job creation, encouraging public-private efforts to coordinate across different sectors, and establishing clear policy and regulations to guide the industry’s growth. The time is ripe for bamboo to deliver green jobs in rural communities and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

After the speeches concluded, participants moved to the courtyard for the Flag-Raising Ceremony.

As the Uruguayan national anthem played, those in attendance witnessed Lu and Faroppa raise the flag of Uruguay high above INBAR Headquarters, billowing proudly in the wind.

Other guests present during the ceremony included Ambassadors to China from Argentina, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Jamaica, Tanzania and Tonga, as well as representatives from relevant Host Country units including China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the NFGA and the Beijing Chaoyang District Government.