MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Spanish Agriculture and Fisheries minister visits Uruguay

Spanish minister Elena Espinosa in Uruguay<br>Photo MAPA

Spain is interested in further promoting its fishing fleet in the South Atlantic using Montevideo as an operational port for the area, said Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA), Elena Espinosa during her visit to Uruguay.

Ms Espinosa held meetings with Spanish fishing companies associated to Uruguayan counterparts and later met with Uruguayan government officials. The meeting with representatives from the companies Credelmar, Urunova, and Valymar was held at the Spanish embassy in Montevideo. "Spanish and Uruguayan businessmen are particularly interested in establishing a possible freezer terminal at Montevideo's port and in developing aquaculture projects that complement with Spain's existing facilities" stated an official MAPA press release. Ms Espinosa said the Spanish government is intent on collaborating with aquaculture projects in Uruguay taking advantage of the rich experience Spain has developed in the industry. "We will collaborate with potential projects, particularly those involving aquaculture" and with those entrepreneurs "dealing in import/exports of agriculture and seafood products", said Espinosa. The Spanish minister described her visit to Montevideo as "satisfactory in so far that we are looking towards the future and contemplating shared growth possibilities in the private sector between Spanish and Uruguayan companies" taking advantage of the existing bilateral relationship. Uruguay has been making great efforts to improve port facilities in the country, particularly Montevideo harbour, "to help service the Spanish fleet operating in the South Atlantic". "Spanish vessels do not have yet a base of reference that matches their potential fleet size and logistics for high seas catch landings, but we're working on it", said Uruguayan authorities reported Vision Maritima. According to Spanish press sources Ms Espinosa's visit to Argentina and Uruguay was also linked to the coming March general election in Spain and the fact that almost 300.000 Spaniards local residents in both countries are registered to vote. (FIS/MP).