Uruguay's ruling coalition process to nominate a presidential candidate for next year's elections not only involves two hopefuls, but also a common program which, according to the latest events does not seem to be the case as the internal dispute becomes more evident.
Mar del Plata in Argentina is the cheapest summer resort in the Mercosur area while Punta del Este,in Uruguay and Rio do Janeiro, Brazil outstand as the dearest according to a report from Buenos Aires consultants Management & Fit published in the Sunday press.
Uruguay will upgrade the Port of Montevideo facilities to enhance the port's efficiency and reduce maritime and river transportation costs with support from a 40 million US dollars loan from the Inter-American Development Bank.
The leader of Uruguay's senior partner group in the ruling coalition and presidential hopeful, Jose Mujica admitted that if the global financial crisis persists he would prefer his rival, former Economy minister Senator Danilo Astori to become the government's presidential candidate for 2009.
Uruguay has a financial protection in the range of two billion US dollars if for some reason the current situation in global markets in the next two years makes it highly difficult to issue sovereign bonds, according to Central Bank sources in Montevideo.
Uruguay's president Tabare Vazquez announced that a Portuguese pulp and paper company will spend over 4 billion US dollars to build a cellulose plant and port in Uruguay.
A majority of Uruguayans admitted that graft is extended in government offices particularly to make sure proceedings get that needed push, according to a public opinion poll released over the weekend.
The heir to the Belgian throne, Prince Philippe and a delegation of a hundred businessmen are currently visiting Uruguay until Friday as part of a Latin-American trade and investment tour.
Uruguayan presidential pre candidates from the ruling coalition agreed Monday on the need for a consensus ticket for next year's election, but if necessary will hold primaries early next year.
Consumer prices in Uruguay during September increased 0.6%, accumulating 7.63%, in nine months and making the 2008 target of 7% look significantly distant, according to the latest release from the Statistics Office, INE.