Uruguay positions itself in Porto Alegre as a reliable destination for investment and innovation

Uruguay played a leading role in Caldeira Week, the annual innovation and technology event organized by the Caldeira Institute in Porto Alegre. For five days, the event brought together business, government, and regional leaders to share ideas and promote collaboration.

On Tuesday, October 1, “Uruguay Day” showcased the country’s competitive advantages as a strategic destination for the export of global services, technology, manufacturing, and logistics to an audience of entrepreneurs, investors, and decision-makers from southern Brazil.

Uruguay XXI participated in the event as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s positioning and highlight its institutional strengths and the diversity of opportunities available to companies seeking to expand in the region. Other participants included El Faro Advising, Aguada Park, Costa Oriental, World Trade Center Montevideo Free Zone, Zonamerica, Cibils Soto Consultores, and Viña Edén, with the support of ANII and CUTI.

A reliable, competitive country with a vision for the future

Fabiana Valiño, Investment Promotion Specialist at Uruguay XXI, delivered a presentation focused on macroeconomic stability, quality of life, and the country’s commitment to innovation as key drivers of development.

Valiño emphasized that Uruguay combines an open economy with a solid and predictable legal framework, a modern and transparent government, and a business community deeply committed to digital transformation.

She also underscored the growing strength of Uruguay’s technology ecosystem, powered by highly skilled local talent.

“The country offers first-rate logistics and digital infrastructure, a business-friendly environment, and a consistent investment promotion policy, regardless of political cycles,” Valiño noted, aligning with Uruguay XXI’s institutional strategy to consolidate the country’s image as a reliable and stable partner.

PepsiCo: a model of innovation with a Uruguayan stamp

One of the highlights of “Uruguay Day” was the testimony of Diego A. Hekimian, Manager of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at PepsiCo Cono Sur, who shared the company’s experience in Uruguay in a conversation moderated by Valiño.

Hekimian recalled the recent visit of President Yamandú Orsi and his cabinet to PepsiCo’s concentrate plant in Colonia del Sacramento, where the company inaugurated a new storage center as part of a modernization plan exceeding US$100 million in investment.

“When we welcomed the president and his ministers a month ago, we showed them what PepsiCo represents in Uruguay: a long-term commitment and a sign of confidence in a country that keeps its word,” he said.

“If I had to define Uruguay in one sentence, I would say it is a country that keeps its word. And that, for a global company, is invaluable.”

The executive highlighted the pillars that explain the multinational’s decision to continue expanding in the country: legal certainty and continuity in public policy.“These are the qualities every company looks for around the world — and in Uruguay, they come naturally. In other countries, there are political swings; in Uruguay, there is predictability,” he emphasized.

From Colonia, PepsiCo’s concentrate plant has established itself as the only one of its kind in Latin America outside of Mexico, exporting to 23 markets and contributing about 1% of Uruguay’s GDP.

“Behind every flavor or innovation in our beverages are years of research and development. Technology and innovation are present in every process,” Hekimian said.

He also highlighted the value of local talent: “Today, practically our entire team is Uruguayan — trained at local universities, bilingual, and highly skilled. That speaks volumes about the quality of education in Uruguay.”

PepsiCo’s case, presented during Caldeira Week, was a tangible example of how the combination of local talent, stable government policies, and a long-term sustainable vision makes Uruguay a model for attracting investment.

At its Colonia plant, the company operates using 100% renewable energy and recycles 99.5% of its waste, in line with its global pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) strategy.

PepsiCo’s experience joins that of other multinational groups that have chosen Uruguay as a regional hub to expand their operations, reinforcing the country’s reputation as a reliable, innovative, and sustainable destination for investment.

Hekimian concluded his remarks by reflecting on the natural integration between Uruguay, southern Brazil, and Argentina’s coastal provinces: “If we look at it not as separate countries, but as a single geographic region, we’re talking about more than 15 million people who share culture and opportunity. Uruguay has enormous potential to grow alongside this region,” he said.

Uruguay XXI’s participation in Caldeira Week reaffirmed its role as a bridge between the public and private sectors, promoting the country as a reliable partner for investment, production, and innovation in Latin America.