From Agreements to Action: Uruguay and Chile Promote the Internationalization of Women Entrepreneurs

For the first time since the Uruguay–Chile Free Trade Agreement entered into force, both countries held a conference in Montevideo focused on its Gender Chapter—an innovative component designed to integrate the principle of equality into international trade policy. This chapter, a global pioneer, recognizes that women do not have access to or benefit from free trade on the same terms as men, and promotes bilateral cooperation to help close these gaps.

Within this framework, the conference “Women Leaders Uruguay–Chile: Skills for Internationalization” brought together representatives from government, development and promotion agencies, financial institutions, and more than 80 businesswomen and entrepreneurs from across the country. The event was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Women’s Institute, Uruguay XXI, and Chile’s Undersecretariat of International Economic Relations, with support from ANDE, ANII, INEFOP, LATU, BROU, the Union of Exporters, Correo Uruguayo, Dinapyme, ANTEL, and OMEU. This broad interagency coordination reflected both countries’ shared commitment to a more equitable approach to international integration.

“For us, this Gender Chapter was a turning point,” said Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Valeria Csukasi at the opening of the conference. “For the first time, a free trade agreement recognized that women do not benefit from international trade in the same way as men. If we don’t create specific instruments, these opportunities won’t be equally available. This meeting is precisely that—a way to turn the agreement’s words into concrete action,” she said.

From Inmujeres, its director Mónica Xavier emphasized the importance of economic autonomy and caregiving as pillars of equality. “Women continue to face barriers to accessing financing, networks, and the time needed to start a business. We need a country that guarantees quality care, financial education, and real opportunities. Only then can we speak of inclusive development,” she stressed.

The executive director of Uruguay XXI, Mariana Ferreira, noted that the challenge of female internationalization is as significant as the opportunity it represents. “We are convinced that women play a decisive role in the country’s export development, but we also know that they continue to face additional obstacles,” she said.

Ferreira recalled that, according to a study conducted by Uruguay XXI together with CINVE and UN Women, only 6.4% of Uruguayan export companies are majority-owned by women, and just 13% of general management positions are held by women. However, she added, entrepreneurial energy is growing: one in five adult women is starting a business, and female participation in business activity increased from 34.8% in 2019 to more than 37% in 2024.

“These data confirm that there is dynamism, talent, and determination,” she said, “but they also show that gaps persist in access to financing, networks, and decision-making spaces. Initiatives such as this conference aim precisely to turn these diagnoses into action—connecting support, sharing tools, and opening up concrete business opportunities.”

Representing Chile, the head of the Economic Department of the Chilean Embassy, Andrés del Olmo, highlighted the tangible impact of the Gender Chapter: “Since its entry into force, the number of women-led companies exporting from Chile has risen from 159 to 229. This is a concrete example of the value of this cooperation.”

Complementary Perspectives

From Santiago, the head of Chile’s Inclusive Trade Department, María Jesús Prieto, shared findings from the Seventh Radiografía de la Mujer Exportadora Chilena (X-ray of Chilean Women Exporters). According to the data, women-led companies represent 30% of all exporters but generate only a quarter of total export value. “Even so, their average annual growth is higher than that of companies led by men, and they employ twice as many women. They are a driving force for change,” she said.

Prieto also highlighted the positive results of the Gender Chapter between the two countries: trade in goods and services led by women has grown by 11.5% annually, while the range of exported products has diversified from 370 to nearly 500 items. “We are seeing a sustained increase in female exports to Uruguay, and we believe that the joint work between both governments has been decisive. The evidence shows that gender policies in trade work when there is continuity and cooperation,” she said.

From Diagnosis to Action

The conference also featured a practical component, led by Claudia Peisino, project manager at Uruguay XXI, who offered clear guidance for those beginning the export process. With an educational approach, she presented the agency’s tools—such as the Exporter Test and the Tu Exporta program—and emphasized the importance of strategic preparation.

“Companies that export are more productive, more innovative, and create higher-quality jobs. Chile, due to its cultural and logistical proximity, is an excellent first destination,” said Peisino. She also underlined the importance of planning: “Exporting is not a leap into the unknown, but a step-by-step process that requires information, guidance, and confidence.”

Stories That Cross the Mountains

The day also included stories from three Uruguayan entrepreneurs who have successfully entered the Chilean market, showing that opportunities are real and achievable.

Antonella De Giuda, co-founder of the swimwear brand MILO, described how her company evolved from a local workshop to shop windows in Santiago thanks to an internationalization strategy that included establishing a subsidiary and partnering with a local distributor. “Chile welcomed us with open arms. We found an audience very similar to the Uruguayan one, which values independent design. In just two years, sales in Chile already represent a third of what we sell in Uruguay,” she said.

From the service sector, Silvia Iroldi presented the experience of Umuntu, a Uruguayan consulting firm specializing in the labor inclusion of people with disabilities. Her work focuses on team building and eliminating attitudinal and communication barriers. “Inclusion isn’t about goodwill—it’s about planning. You have to diagnose, train, support, and follow up. That’s why our methodology is also being successfully applied in Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador,” she explained.

The event concluded with a story that redefined the concept of exporting beyond traditional goods and services. Omaira Rodríguez, a specialist in Creative Industries at Uruguay XXI, presented the case of Flor Sakeo, a Uruguayan singer-songwriter who, with the support of the agency and the Graffiti Awards, traveled to Santiago, Chile, to perform at the La Furia del Libro literary fair.

Rodríguez highlighted Flor’s experience as a concrete example of how institutional cooperation can open doors for more female creators. “In music, the gender gap remains wide—only 30% of people in the sector are women,” she explained. “That’s why it’s essential for institutions to help promote their international visibility. The case of Flor Sakeo shows that exporting doesn’t always mean selling products—it can also mean exporting talent, creativity, and culture.”

She recounted how the artist—winner of the Graffiti Award for Best Female Solo Artist—performed abroad for the first time and achieved unexpected success: her song Canción para los planetas (Song for the Planets) was chosen as the official theme song for the event, greatly increasing her visibility in Chilean media and on social networks. “It was a beautiful symbol,” said Rodríguez, “because that song speaks of strength and fury, and the fair was called La Furia del Libro (The Fury of the Book). The coincidence became a perfect metaphor for what it means to break new ground.”

“The case,” she concluded, “embodies the spirit of this cooperation: with the right support, Uruguayan creators can break barriers, reach new audiences, and represent the country with their art.”

A Partnership with a Future

The meeting closed with a shared message: cooperation between Uruguay and Chile will continue to deepen through the FTA Gender Committee, which is planning new activities and a joint study on the export potential of women in both countries.

“We want this to be not just a one-day event, but a sustained process,” Csukasi summarized. “When women participate in foreign trade, not only does the economy grow—but society grows as well.”