Uruguay and Brazil will be signing this month an agreement to promote the development of Uruguay's naval construction industry, which has been described as one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy, said Industry and Energy minister Roberto Kreimerman in Montevideo during the launching of a barge for the pulp industry.
Less than a week before meeting with Barack Obama in Washington, Uruguayan president Jose Mujica described his peer as a 'progressive leader who has his feet and hands tied” and described the fact he made it to the White House, a complete surprise, 'almost unconceivable'.
Uruguay's inflation index was down 0.06% during April with the annual index standing at 9.18% and 4.68% in the first four months of the year, according to the latest release from the country's stats office, INE.
The Uruguayan government considers the British occupation of the Malvinas Islands as a 'latent threat' according to a work-paper with basic points of the country's defense policy and which is to be made public this week, some excerpts of which were advanced by the pro-government daily La Republica.
Uruguay's dairy industry has overtaken Argentina as the main supplier of milk to Brazil, according to Globo Rural, a Brazilian site which specializes in farming news. Brazil's imports were globally 60% Argentine milk and the rest, 40% from Uruguay, but now Uruguay has moved to over 50%, meaning Argentina is losing ground in Latam largest economy and leading Mercosur partner, Anibal Schaller manager of the Milk Industry Center, admitted to Globo Rural.
Uruguayan authorities have revealed how marijuana will be produced and sold legally in the country following the approval of the bill last December. Licensed pharmacies will sell the drug for approximately one US dollar a gram with consumers allowed 40g a month.
Uruguay has expressed an interest in actively participating in negotiations to liberalize trade in services in the framework of TISA, Trade in Services Agreement which recently held its seventh round of talks in Geneva.
Uruguay has confirmed a third pulp mill to be built to the north east of the country in Cerro Largo, while the second one, Montes del Plata on the River Plate and recently finished is to be formally inaugurated sometime between May 15 and 25, although production will be delayed for a few months since the second wharf is unfinished and the effluents plant non commissioned.
Uruguay has granted final approval for importing US fresh and frozen poultry and poultry products, including US fresh chicken, the USDA has announced.
NZ Farming Systems Uruguay, the dairy unit of Singapore-based Olam International in Uruguay, has sold some 7,771 hectares of farm land in Uruguay to local interests for about 53.7 million dollars in gross cash proceeds. The transactions would free up cash “for redeployment into more value-accretive projects,” Olam said in a statement.