February 13, 2014 
TopofPage
In your next trip, discover the Delta digital experience.
In This Week's Issue:

The Uruguayan Economic Picture

Tomas Guerrero, U.S. Embassy

An educated population, MERCOSUR access, a legal system with high standards - all characterize the nation's business opportunities. 

 

The second of a two-part series

 

By Mark Holston 

  

With a decade of steady and healthy economic growth behind it and a consistent currency, Uruguay is gaining the attention of multinational companies from around the globe. "It's a stable and mature economy," says Tomas Guerrero, a diplomat in the Political and Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo. "They are looking outward for really the first time in their history, so it's an exciting time. The business climate for U.S. interests is very positive. For instance, Uruguay has rebounded very strongly after an economic downturn a decade ago. The country is experiencing strong growth, and they are looking for more diverse investment opportunities and a more diverse set of investors."

  

Demographic Determinacy

Although the country's demographic realities - a low birthrate and stable, aging population of about 3.3 million - may limit Uruguay's appeal to some foreign businesses, its attributes as a regional hub will make it attractive to others. "Getting access to Uruguay gives you easier access to the MERCOSUR common market, which is hundreds of millions of people and trillions of dollars," Guerrero points out. "The competitive advantage here is the ease of doing business. In terms of transparency, it's as good as it gets on the continent and they are eager to engage with U.S. businesses."

Montevideo harbor

  

The diplomat notes that the U.S. Embassy, for one, works with Uruguayan ministries and other organizations to promote business and investment opportunities. "The small size of the country is an advantage because it's easier to get in, set up shop, and you have a set of organizations here that will work to your advantage," Guerrero adds. "It's a stepping-stone to continental access. The port operations here are cream-of-the-crop in the region, and the whole idea of a hub just keeps echoing, whether it's for logistics or IT."

 

A Play for IT Hub Status

The nation is actively working to become a regional hub for information technology. It has established a number of free trade zones throughout the country three of which are focused on services related to high-end customer support - specifically for clients in the U.S. and others with bilingual requirements. "The IT sector here has a lot more going for it than most people appreciate," he says. "They launched Plan Ceibal, the world's first governmental initiative to get a laptop into the hands of every student, and that's been a monumental success. Uruguay could be the first country to be fiber-connected everywhere. From services industry to infrastructure, they are really cutting edge."

Dr. Nicolas Etcheverry, University of Montevideo

 

Educational Excellence

Uruguay's educated population gives it the workforce to back up its economic goals. Its education system is regarded as one of the better in the region. On the campus of one elite private institution, the University of Montevideo, Law School Dean Dr. Nicolás Etcheverry notes that local attorneys with highly developed expertise in Uruguayan and international law are a critical resource. "Three years ago, we decided to take six of our students to the annual Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition," he recalls. "We thought that it would be a good experience for them, but they stunned everyone by making it to the finals." Out of more teams from than 250 universities from around the world, the Uruguayan law students placed second in the arbitration competition. "One of Uruguay's strengths," Etcheverry points out, "is the high standard of our legal profession. That's an attribute many foreign firms and investors can use to their advantage."

  

Take Advantage of Embassy Services

It's important to use all the advantages available when doing business in Uruguay. That includes embassy resources. The nation's position as the home of the MERCOSUR secretariat means that many nations have either embassies or commercial divisions (or both) in Montevideo. Either can be quite helpful to commercial interests. For instance, at the U.S. Embassy, "We do a lot of work to support U.S. firms interested in doing business with Uruguay," Guerrero says. "First, it's important to do one's homework ahead of time. Consult with the embassy and get our feedback, particularly if you are planning on making an entry into this country for the first time. Read up on the tax situation and regulations. We are a great source for that kind of information."

  

by Mark Holston JOHN DEERE IN URUGUAY

A trip into Uruguay's agricultural hinterland quickly reveals the identity of one U.S. firm that is doing a booming business in this small South American nation: the familiar green and yellow colors of John Deere tractors, combines and other farm implements are everywhere. From soybean fields to the Uruguayan Riviera, where the tourism infrastructure is adding new resorts and luxury hotels, the company is finding fertile ground for expansion.

 


Tomas Guerrero, U.S. Embassy, courtesy of U.S. Department of State; Montevideo harbor, Uruguayan countryside by Mark Holston; Dr. Nicolas Etcheverry, University of Montevideo, courtesy of Dr. Etcheverry

 

Back to top  
News from our Partners
(Click the headlines to read full stories)

 

  Delta

 

Delta Air Lines names Gil West executive vice president and chief operating officer: West has been leading the airline's internal maintenance operations and its maintenance, repair and overhaul provider business

Delta Air Lines appoints director for Brazil: Luciano Macagno responsible for leading commercial operations in world's fourth-largest aviation market

 

Back to Top 
Travel News
Delta Air Lines in Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International Airport

New Airline Routes and Route Changes

South America

Delta Air Lines will add a second daily flight between São Paulo and Atlanta, Georgia, where the airport has one of its U.S. hubs.

 

US Airways will move its daily flight from São Paulo to Charlotte, North Carolina (U.S.) to a red-eye flight with a departure of 2:30 a.m. in the morning through July 19. After that, the departure time will change to 11:00 p.m. at night. The airline will also switch to Airbus A330-200 aircraft, from Boeing 767-200ER after May 10.

 

Uruguay-based BQB Airlines will begin flying between Montevideo, Uruguay, and São Paulo at the end of this month, after several weeks of delay to its planned start. The schedule will change during the coming months, and the airline plans to increase service to 10 or 14 weekly round-trips during the World Cup.

 

Aerolineas Argentinas will begin daily round-trip service between Buenos Aires Aeroparque and Curitiba, Brazil.

Monterrey, Mexico

 

Mexico

Mexico-based low-cost carrier Volaris will expand its service out of Monterrey, Mexico, beginning March 28. At that time, it will launch new routes between Monterrey and the Mexican cities of Culiacan, Merida, Veracruz, Cancun, Chihuahua, Ciudad Juarez, Puerto Vallarta and San Jose/Los Cabos.

 

Avianca has added capacity between Bogota and Mexico City, switching service on several routes to Airbus A330-200 aircraft, which carry more passengers than the A320 aircraft it was using.

 

British Airways will add a sixth weekly round-trip flight between London Heathrow and Mexico City, beginning March 30; its flights will run every day except for Thursday.

787-8 Aeromexico Dreamliner

 

Aeromexico plans to begin twice weekly Boeing 787 Dreamliner service between Mexico City and London's Heathrow Airport on March 15. Dreamliner service will pause from April 1 through April 15, and will increase to three times a week after May 17. 

 

International Connections

British Airways will launch service between London Heathrow and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas early next month. The five-days-per-week service will be the first regular transatlantic flight from Austin.

 

Delta Air Lines will add a fourth daily round-trip between London's Heathrow Airport and Atlanta (Georgia, U.S.), one of its U.S. hubs, beginning March 30.

 

Beginning March 30, American Airlines will transfer one of its daily round-trips between New York's John F. Kennedy Airport and London's Heathrow Airport to British Airways. That will bring American's daily round-trips on the route to three, and increase BA's to eight.

 

On March 6, American Airlines plans to end its non-stop service between Los Angeles, California and Newark, New Jersey (New York City metropolitan area). The airline will still fly between Los Angeles and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

 

Other Airline News

The merged American Airlines and US Airways have expanded their codeshare agreement to all of the domestic flights and most of the international flights in both airlines' networks.

Avianca Fokker 50

 

Aeromexico recently introduced concierge reservation service, for US$15 extra per ticket. The concierge service offers assistance, advice and reservations for hotels, restaurants, entertainment, temporary assistants, car services and more.

 

Colombia-based Avianca temporarily grounded its fleet of Fokker 50 regional aircraft. The company says it did so as a preemptive measure, after finding a malfunction in a Fokker 50 engine. It is working with the engine's manufacturer to correct the issue.

 

Airport News

São Paulo's Guarulhos International Airport signed a contract with Boingo Wireless to deploy the company's Wi-Fi Internet throughout the airport. Other carriers, such as AT&T and Telefonica, will also be able to offer Wi-Fi access to their customers through Boingo's network.

Cambria Suites Miami Hotel

 

Hotel News

The Cambria Suites Miami Hotel opened in the city's Blue Lagoon area, a corporate offices site near Miami International Airport. Each of the hotel's 122 suites includes a refrigerator and microwave, and the hotel has free Wi-Fi throughout, as well as an on-premises full-service restaurant and 1,000 square feet of meeting space. Cambria is a Choice Hotels brand.

 

The 114-room Hampton Inn & Suites Los Angeles Int'l Airport/Hawthorne opened near Los Angeles International Airport and Hawthorne Municipal Airport.

 

The Southern Cross Club in Little Cayman joined the Expedition Collection, part of Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts.  

 

Delta Air Lines in Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International Airport by redlegsfan21; Monterrey, Mexico by shardin1n; 787-7 Aeromexico Dreamliner by André Du-pont via Wikimedia Commons; Avianca Fokker 50 by Pedro Aragão; Cambria Suites Miami Hotel, courtesy of Cambria Suites
Thrifty Car Rental: Discover more of the world for less!
Datarisk: Do you really know enough about your suppliers and distributors?
Latin Business Chronicle-Latin America On Demand
Latin Trade: 20 Years as a leading business source of information for Latin America and the Caribbean
Latin Business Traveler
 
 
 Resources from Latin Trade Group
Editorial Assistant/Production Manager: Leslie Gutiérrez

Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved.

Just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in 
Latin Business Traveler. Please add traveler@latintrade.com to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox. 
You may unsubscribe by clicking the SafeUnsubscribe link below if you no longer wish to receive our emails.