The School of Government, through its Jean Monnet Module, co-organized the Mendoza Global Forum with the City of Mendoza.

The Mendoza Stock Exchange was the chosen venue for the Mendoza Global Forum, which marked the official launch of the Mendoza Global Project. This initiative seeks to consolidate a space for reflection and collaboration among the public sector, academia, the diplomatic corps, civil society organizations, and the province's productive sector. Its purpose is to analyze the transformations of the international order, the growing role of so-called middle powers, and Mendoza's potential to strengthen its international integration through subnational diplomacy.

The activity was supported by the Delegation of the European Union in Argentina, the representations of Canada and Poland, the Mendoza Stock Exchange, universities and organizations specializing in international relations.

The meeting began with welcoming remarks from the Consul of Peru, Alberto Javier Hart Merino, and continued with a speech by Mayor Ulpiano Suarez. Also present were the Vice Governor of Mendoza, Hebe Casado; the President of the Senate, Martín Kerchner; the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Andrés Lombardi; and the Minister of Production, Rodolfo Vargas Arizu. Municipal authorities, council members, members of the consular corps, embassy representatives, and representatives from business chambers also participated.

It is important to highlight the support of the universities based in the City of Mendoza, such as the University of Congreso, Champagnat University and the Catholic University of Argentina, Mendoza branch, which participated in the different panels.

To open the meeting, the Consul of Peru, Alberto Javier Hart Merino, thanked the attendees for their presence, emphasized the importance of the initiative, and highlighted the role that international relations play in fostering the exchange of ideas between people and promoting openness to dialogue.

Later, the mayor of Mendoza City, Ulpiano Suarez, echoed this sentiment, stating: “Cities and provinces are no longer simply service providers; we are the places from which we can generate concrete opportunities for people. And for me, that is the deepest meaning of governing: to support those who produce, facilitate investment, build bridges with universities, and open up a future for our young people.”

He added: “I am convinced that Mendoza cannot be content with simply managing what it already has. We must dare to do more. To lead a new, superior stage, in which the order that cost us so much, and which we must protect, is transformed into growth, investment, and genuine jobs for our people.”

He concluded: “Mendoza Global is the decision to view the world from Mendoza, and to think about Mendoza from the world's perspective. It's about building a permanent space where the government, businesses, universities, and society work together toward a common goal.”

Subsequently, José Antonio Sanahuja, Professor of International Relations at the Complutense University of Madrid, and member of the Jean Monnet Module of the Universidad AustralIt began with the keynote address The world in interregnum: a European perspective.

The agenda also included the discussion "Cities in the world: paradiplomacy as a development tool", with the participation of Ulpiano Suarez and José Antonio Sanahuja.

Another of the central themes of the day was the panel Mendoza in the global economy: strategic resources, cooperation opportunities and the EU-Mercosur Agreement, which included representatives from the Mendoza Business Council, the Mendoza Economic Federation, Broda Lab and the Mendoza Stock Exchange.

Additionally, a space was developed dedicated to the international potential of Mendoza's youth, with the participation of organizations linked to diplomacy, international relations and the training of young leaders, represented by Diplomacia Activa, CEDEMA, Youth Diplomats and Órbita.

The closing event was marked by the panel “The Hour of the Middle Powers: Strategic Autonomy and Argentine Foreign Policy,” which featured Jonathan Sauvé, Political Counselor of the Canadian Embassy in Argentina, Marcelo Dante Villa, Regional Manager of the Polish Trade and Investment Agency, and was moderated by Santiago Ardisson, professor and coordinator of the Jean Monnet Module of the Universidad Austral.

In this way, the Mendoza Global Forum aimed to position the City of Mendoza as a venue for strategic debates on international policy, cooperation, economic development and subnational diplomacy.