Gateway to business in Latin America

Do you know the reasons why so many companies choose Uruguay as a regional hub to do business?

This is why: Uruguay stands out in Latin America for its high per capita income, better levels of equity, lower poverty records and also for having the largest proportion of the population in the middle class.

But what is more, the country stands out among its neighbors for offering investors confidence, clear rules of the game and tempting promotional regimes for companies. Furthermore, Uruguay has made a real revolution in technology and digital inclusion, connectivity and fiber optics, availability of talent and -nothing less when it comes to settle- the recognition of Montevideo as the city with the best quality of life in Latin America.

The businessmen who decide to make investments from Uruguay to South America emphasize the favorable business climate, as well as a social, political and economic stability that is sustained over time without surprises.

Uruguay is the only country of Mercosur with an investment grade and for more than six years the main rating agencies have been improving the country's credit rating.

With approx. 3.5 million inhabitants, the country has positioned itself as the most solid regional logistics hub and has, a privileged location that favors access to millions of consumers throughout the continent in a few hours. These reasons added to its participation in the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Mexico, have earned it the title of "the best gateway to the region" and allow access to an expanded market of more than 400 million people, representing 76% of the region's GDP.

Uruguay is the neuralgic center of business in Latin America and is boosted by a modern port and airport infrastructure, with the only free ports in the region.

From Uruguay, access is gained to the waterway formed by the Paraná, Paraguay and Uruguay rivers, which penetrate the continent and connect with the densest road network in all of Latin America.

The quality of its infrastructure will increase further in the coming years, as Uruguay has developed a successful public-private investment program for the period 2015-2019, which will increase its potential and allow it to substantially advance and modernize its main highways, railroads and the national port system.

In addition to these remarkable characteristics, Uruguay has completely transformed its energy matrix, which placed it among the top 10 countries in the World Energy Architecture Performance Index (WEF 2017), led by countries such as Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and France. Currently, 98% of Uruguay's energy is generated from renewable sources.  

Uruguay is also a synonym of inclusion and digital government. 90% of Uruguayan households access high-speed fiber optic Internet. It is also a leader in communications, pointed out in 2017 by the International Telecommunications Union as the most advanced Latin American country in ICTs.

Local free trade zones, which develop industrial, commercial and service activities and exempt their users from national taxes, provide a differential framework for logistics and business operations, extending the benefits on the exchange and added value to the goods and services provided.

All these reasons make this country an ideal place for the installation of shared services centers. In fact, around 400 global companies have already chosen it to develop their business from Uruguay to the region.

These qualities position Uruguay solidly as a corporate services center and as the gateway to South America, always open for good business.

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