Uruguayan Talent Takes Center Stage at Uruguay Global Services Day

The third edition of Uruguay Global Services Day once again highlighted the cohesion and maturity of a sector that has become one of the pillars of the country’s economic development. Organized by Uruguay XXI, the event convened representatives from multinational companies, free trade zones, academia, and government institutions to provide an updated overview of the sector and outline its future challenges.

Opening the event, Mariana Ferreira, Executive Director of Uruguay XXI, emphasized the breadth and diversity of the ecosystem present. The gathering, she noted, “brings together international companies that have chosen Uruguay as a hub, actors from the ecosystem, academia, free trade zones, and the public sector,” a combination that “enriches this type of activity.” Ferreira stressed the strategic role of corporate services: “For 15 years, we have been publishing a report that shows the economic importance of the sector. Today we want to reinforce Uruguay as a provider of corporate services, share trends, and review opportunities for improvement.”

Martín Vallcorba, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, described global services as “a sector that has consolidated itself and is being promoted as a pillar of the country’s economic development.” He underscored its contribution to skilled employment, export diversification, and international integration.

Vallcorba noted that, in a world shaped by geopolitical tensions, Uruguay continues to offer “an increasingly scarce attribute: predictability.” He outlined ongoing reforms—including debureaucratization and digitization of the state, modernization of regulatory frameworks, strengthening of investment incentives, and improvements in digital infrastructure. Talent, he said, remains the sector’s greatest strategic challenge, highlighting initiatives such as the relaunch of the Finishing Schools program and efforts to attract specialized talent to Uruguay.

A Sector That Drives Employment, Exports, and Sophistication

The Investment and Aftercare Manager at Uruguay XXI, Alejandro Ferrari, provided a detailed overview of the ecosystem, noting that the country combines multinational subsidiaries, local exporters, free trade zones, specialized service providers, training institutions, and a broad set of public bodies that support sectoral development. He underlined that Uruguay—along with Costa Rica—is one of the most specialized service exporters in the region, and a key destination for high-value operations thanks to its time zone, talent quality, and institutional stability.

Ferrari reported that Uruguay XXI has identified 660 companies with more than five employees operating in the global services and trading segment, a universe that continues to expand. These companies generate 34,000 jobs, with 35% located in free trade zones, illustrating the importance of these regimes as service platforms.

“We are looking at a sector that generates inclusive, quality jobs—often the first job for young people, but also with opportunities for advancement at very high levels of sophistication,” he said. The presence of multinationals, he explained, introduces new methodologies, tools, and work standards “that spill over into the broader economy and strengthen the ecosystem.”

Ferrari highlighted that service exports now total US$4.1 billion, while trading contributes another US$2.3 billion. Together, global services represent about 30% of Uruguay’s total exports, “an unequivocal sign of the growing sophistication of the Uruguayan economy.”

He added that the United States remains the main origin of companies established in Uruguay, followed by Canada, Argentina, several European countries, and Brazil. “The diversification of origins and operational functions confirms that Uruguay has consolidated itself as a regional platform for high-value corporate operations,” he said.

Ferrari explained that many investments arrive in a sequential manner: companies initially set up small teams or limited functions and then gradually expand into areas such as finance, procurement, human resources, data analysis, technology, or regulatory compliance. “This pattern demonstrates confidence in the country and in its talent, and aligns with what we have observed for more than a decade,” he added.

Multinationals Highlight the Strength of Uruguayan Talent

The business panel—featuring Erika Hannibal (Director of Senior Regulatory Group at Roche), Patricia Nunes (General Manager of BASF Services Americas Hub Montevideo), and Luis Pedro Sapelli (Director of Global Services, TCS Latam)—analyzed the opportunities and challenges faced by the sector in an increasingly competitive global landscape.

All three executives highlighted Uruguay’s economic, political, and social stability as a determining factor in developing long-term corporate operations and sustaining services that support multiple markets. They agreed that this predictable environment has enabled them to establish service centers with growing levels of complexity and specialization.

Local talent emerged as the sector’s most relevant differentiator. The executives emphasized the combination of soft skills, fast learning capacity, and the ability to understand complex scenarios that characterizes Uruguayan professionals.

BASF, Roche, and TCS agreed that this combination of human and technical strengths has allowed companies to build platforms capable of handling financial, regulatory, technological, communication, supply chain, and other specialized functions. They also noted that global teams working with Uruguayan professionals tend to prefer them for their empathy, adaptability, and consistent focus on quality—attributes that contribute significantly to Uruguay’s international positioning as a reliable services provider.

The panel acknowledged that the global services sector is undergoing a moment of redefinition. Rising international competition, automation, and cost pressures require Uruguay to further differentiate itself through talent, quality, and higher value-added services. While reaffirming their commitment to the country, the companies noted that maintaining sustainable growth will involve strengthening competitiveness relative to other markets. As Nunes observed, this is an industry in which “it is easy to enter, easy to grow, but also easy to leave,” making it essential to consolidate the conditions needed to retain investment and expand opportunities from Uruguay.

Success Stories: Companies That Consolidate Uruguay as a Platform

A panel of success stories, moderated by Fabiana Valiño, specialist in Global Services and Regional Distribution Centers at Uruguay XXI, featured companies proposed by the Aguada Park, Parque de las Ciencias, WTC Free Zone, and Zonamerica free trade zones. The segment offered concrete examples of the country’s value proposition.

María José Vázquez, Director of Asignet, said: “We chose Uruguay as our country, and we love being here. The talent is unmatched, and the time zone is a huge advantage for us. Our clients in the United States love working with Uruguay.”

Enrique Ermoglio, Managing Partner at Deloitte, highlighted that the firm operates three offices in Montevideo, each aligned with its global strategy, and stressed the importance of offering technologically attractive workplaces for its teams.

Javier Carrau, HR Manager at Trafigura, recalled that the company chose Uruguay over Panama and Costa Rica due to its talent, English proficiency, and institutional stability. “This is our second-largest office,” he confirmed.

Finally, Sergio Savoi, CEO of NutriPharma Solutions, emphasized “the attitude, education, and values” of Uruguayan talent as key to competing internationally.

Artificial Intelligence and the Future: Uruguay Competes on Quality

Closing the event, Glenn Hopper, an expert in digital transformation, analyzed the role of artificial intelligence in the future of global services. He stated that Montevideo “has gained recognition for its exceptional service work” and argued that while many countries compete on cost, “Uruguay competes on quality, and AI aligns perfectly with that profile.” He explained that these technologies accelerate analytical tasks, enhance consistency, and allow professionals to focus their judgment where it has the greatest impact.