“Más Comercio” visited Rosario and discovered new companies with export potential

The Más Comercio program added a new stop to its tour of the country’s interior with an event in the city of Rosario, Colonia. The event provided internationalization tools to companies, most of which were participating for the first time in an export support initiative, confirming the potential that still exists outside traditional business circles.
Organized by Uruguay XXI in collaboration with public and private institutions that make up the support ecosystem for Uruguayan MSMEs, the event combined practical export training with personalized consulting sessions—one of the tools most highly valued by attendees.

On this occasion, the event brought together companies from sectors such as food, dairy, and chocolate, all interested in taking their first steps toward new markets.

Claudia Peisino, the leader of Más Comercio and project manager at Uruguay XXI, highlighted that this edition allowed them to connect with companies that had not yet had contact with the program. “For this edition, we went to Rosario, a city where we hadn’t worked before, and found companies with great potential that hadn’t yet started exporting,” she noted.

As she explained, one of the most significant findings was that all participating companies were new to Uruguay XXI, even though the program had previously carried out activities in the department. For Peisino, this confirms the need to continue expanding the initiative’s territorial reach and to engage with communities where there are still businesses with international potential that do not view exporting as a growth opportunity.

The Value of the Ecosystem and Local Testimonials

Personalized mentoring sessions allowed local entrepreneurs to view exporting as a real and accessible option. From Colonia Valdense, Ingrid Mesa and Jean Pierre Felix, founders of Mathi (gluten-free foods), said the workshop bridged the gap. “We initially viewed exporting as something very distant because we had no experience. After the workshop and speaking with specialists, we feel that goal is much closer,” they said.

The dairy and processed foods sector was strongly represented. Anabella Porley and Michael Sonderegger, from the dairy company Don Santi, appreciated the human-centered approach of the event. “We gained insights from all areas and realized that we’re not alone on this journey; having support helps us move forward tremendously,” they explained.

Similarly, Gabriel Davyt, director of the dairy company La Positiva, emphasized that “while financial assistance is important, it’s essential to have guidance and interaction with the various stakeholders in the ecosystem throughout the entire process.” Likewise, Andrea Marcoff, from Extrablatt Chocolates, highlighted the value of accessing firsthand information about the specific tools available for expansion.

The event in Colonia also featured Naturalia as a case study company. Its founder, Alejandro Dellature, shared the company’s experience with international growth, having worked alongside Uruguay XXI for several years. Through trade promotion and market research tools, the company was able to consolidate and develop its international presence, with Brazil currently serving as its main export destination.

The case study served to demonstrate to participants how access to support programs, trade intelligence, and international promotion can become a platform for sustained growth for companies in the country’s interior.

With this new edition in the Colonia region, Más Comercio reaffirms its commitment to decentralizing internationalization opportunities, promoting export development from local communities, and strengthening the business ecosystem with potential for global growth.

The Más Comercio tour will continue in July with new activities in the northern part of the country. The program will arrive in Rivera on Tuesday, July 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the SME Center (Monseñor Jacinto Vera 1119) and in Tacuarembó on Thursday, July 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the SME Center (25 de Mayo 255). Companies and startups interested in participating can register at mascomercio.uy