July 29, 2019

The president of the Forest Producers Society, Carlos Faroppa, spoke with De Siembra about the future installation of UPM II, which will be the third pulp mill in the country and the largest in the world.

The confirmation of UPM II “is a crowning achievement, but we hope to have more crowning achievements in the future,” he said.

According to Faroppa, this is very positive news that is the result of “a well-defined state policy. Perhaps one of the most defined and most continuous state policies” in the country.

As an example, he cited that “every time there was an investment in the pulp industry, it was the largest productive investment of its time in Uruguay.” First it was Botnia (now UPM), then Montes del Plata, and soon the second UPM plant, which will be located in the center of the country, next to Pueblo Centenario, in the department of Durazno.

Faroppa spoke about the growth of the forestry sector, which has established itself as one of the main sectors in the country, to the point that last year «it was the most exporting sector.»

He also specifically referred to UPM II, saying that its arrival «speaks well of the country, not just of forestry policy,» since it is a safe, long-term investment with the highest standards worldwide.

This in turn implies the creation of thousands of direct, indirect and induced jobs, which are largely quality jobs, well paid and requiring ongoing training and development.

Regarding the environmental aspect, he pointed out that «the industrial performance (of UPM II) is not going to be a problem for the (Negro) river; the river already has a problem.»