Uruguay al Mundo will support the internationalization of MSMEs and startups

Uruguay has taken a new step in its productive development strategy with the launch of Uruguay al Mundo, a program aimed at promoting the internationalization of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), as well as startups, as a driver of growth, innovation, and quality job creation.

The launch event was attended by the Minister of Industry, Energy, and Mining, Fernanda Cardona; the Minister of Economy and Finance, Gabriel Oddone; the Director of the Office of Planning and Budget, Rodrigo Arim; the Executive Director of Uruguay XXI, Mariana Ferreira; the President of the National Development Agency (ANDE), Juan Ignacio Dorrego; the President of the National Research and Innovation Agency (ANII), Álvaro Brunini; the President of the Uruguay Technology Laboratory (LATU), Lucila Arboleya; and Bruno Gili, head of Uruguay Innova, along with other national authorities.

On this occasion, the program’s guidelines and main features were presented by Ferreira and Dorrego, who outlined its foundations, objectives, and support modalities. Both emphasized that internationalization is not merely an option for some companies, but a development priority and a state policy. In this regard, the Executive Director of Uruguay XXI noted that Uruguay al Mundo is the result of coordinated work that began earlier this year within the framework of Uruguay Innova, with the goal of “bringing together the efforts, instruments, and tools of different agencies to once again offer a solid program to support MSMEs and startups in their internationalization process.”

Ferreira highlighted that ample empirical evidence shows that companies that export—regardless of their size—are more efficient, competitive, and innovative than those that do not. “Access to international markets has an unquestionable spillover effect: it increases productivity, strengthens scalable business models, diversifies risks, and demands higher standards,” she said.

She also warned, however, that MSMEs and startups face greater challenges in sustaining their presence in foreign markets over time, which underscores the need for targeted public policies. Uruguay XXI further emphasized the strategic role of these companies in building a more resilient productive and export structure.

Although MSMEs account for more than 80% of goods-exporting companies, they represent only about 5% of total export value and tend to operate in a limited number of markets, mainly within the region. “Supporting their internationalization not only opens new destinations, but also helps ensure continuity and consolidation over time,” Ferreira explained.

ANDE President Juan Ignacio Dorrego detailed the program’s operational characteristics and main objectives, which include promoting internationalization processes, building internal capacities to scale solutions, consolidating new exporting companies, and fostering the transfer of knowledge and talent across countries. “We need to expand the network of companies that access regional and global markets,” he said.

Uruguay al Mundo targets MSMEs and startups from across the country, in all sectors, that produce or market goods and services and show potential to access new markets. Dorrego stressed the importance of addressing the historical concentration of this type of support in Montevideo and the metropolitan area, and of leveraging opportunities throughout the rest of the country.

The program will have a total budget of USD 1.5 million for the 2026–2027 period and will feature annual calls for proposals. It is expected to support more than 130 projects, which will be evaluated with the participation of the involved agencies and external evaluators.

The initiative is structured around two modalities. The export modality focuses on supporting companies in preparing and scaling their production to meet demand in destination markets, with financing of up to 80% of the project and a maximum amount of USD 10,000. The internationalization modality targets companies with prior experience seeking to consolidate and scale their operations in new international markets, offering up to 80% financing with a maximum of USD 20,000. Both modalities may include an initial stage for designing an activity plan aligned with each company’s objectives.

The call for applications will open in February 2026, with evaluations scheduled for the following months and activities set to begin in May. Beyond specific support instruments, Uruguay al Mundo consolidates a coordinated approach aimed at facilitating companies’ access to international markets through collaboration among public institutions linked to productive development, innovation, and international promotion.

The initiative is the result of a strategic partnership between ANDE, Uruguay XXI, ANII, LATU, and the Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mining (MIEM), within the framework of the Uruguay Innova program led by the Presidency. This joint effort seeks to build a comprehensive and accessible pathway for more Uruguayan MSMEs and startups to reach global markets and consolidate their international growth.