Uruguay

• Wednesday, January 14th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Rio Tinto “delays” massive iron ore port project in Uruguay

  

  Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto has decided to halt a project planned for western Uruguay for at least one year due to the global financial crisis, the Uruguayan government admitted this week.

• Wednesday, January 14th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Uruguay: 6 companies interested in possible offshore oil & gas

  

  Six companies to date have purchased data packages for Uruguay's first offshore Exploration and Production round, mining and energy minister Daniel Martínez said after making a presentation at an energy conference in Santiago de Chile.

• Tuesday, January 13th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Uruguay: emergency aid for drought striken farmers

  Uruguay declared on Monday an “agriculture emergency” and announced measures to help farmers address the very serious “rain deficit” which is threatening crops, livestock and the provision of fresh produce. The package includes importing fodder and cow feed for dairy farms as well as postponing tax and social security payments, and energy bills.

• Tuesday, January 13th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Uruguay raises basic rate to 10% to combat inflation

  

  Uruguay's Central bank this week raised its reference interest rate by 2.25 percentage points to 10% in an attempt to contain inflation which last year closed at 9.19%, above government target and the highest since 2003.

• Sunday, January 11th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Uruguay government admits “serious drought” condition

  Following weeks of farmers' demands for emergency support, Uruguay's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries finally admitted the seriousness of the drought for the farming industry and the country's main source of exports.

• Tuesday, January 6th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Uruguay 2008 exports grow 31% in value, reach 6 billion USD

  

  Uruguay exports grew by 31.3% in value in 2008, its biggest increase in the last four years, despite the negative effects that the international financial crisis had on the country in the last two months of the year, according to an official report.

• Tuesday, January 6th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Forest fire smoke plumes slow tourist traffic in Uruguay

  

  A forest fire that was preventing tourists from reaching Uruguay's sea resorts, including the upscale vacation spot of Punta del Este has been brought under control, although fire-fighters and the military were still working to extinguish the blaze completely, officials said.

• Monday, January 5th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Cuba's Raul Castro scheduled to visit Uruguay this year

  

  Cuban president Raul Castro will be visiting Uruguay this year, according to reports in the Uruguayan government oriented press. Castro was extended an invitation last June when Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez was in the island and later confirmed in an official letter.

• Tuesday, December 30th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Uruguay: consumers must benefit from cheaper commodities

  

  The Uruguayan government will intervene, if necessary, in the domestic market distribution chain to ensure that the full benefit of the falling international prices of commodities effectively reaches the consumer, announced several ministers following the Monday cabinet meeting.

• Thursday, December 25th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Four cruises and 8.000 visitors on one day in Punta del Este

  

  Uruguay's main sea side resort renowned Punta del Este received this week four cruise vessels simultaneously and although not all of the 8.000 passengers landed a significant percentage did make it ashore, establishing a record visit.