Uruguay

• 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.

• Friday, December 19th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Uruguay's record wheat crop nightmare for farmers' pockets

  

  Uruguay expects this year its largest wheat harvest on record, 1.3 million tons including 900.000 for export, according to a report from the Agriculture Ministry Planning and Policies Office, OPYPA.

• Tuesday, December 16th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Uruguay: global pulp company presents strategic project

  

  Sweden-Finland's Stora Enso paper, pulp and wood giant which, has plans to establish a plant in Uruguay has formally presented a strategic environment assessment plan as part of its forestry exploitation project.

• Monday, December 15th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Uruguay's dispute with Kirchners becomes regional

  

  Uruguay is considering abandoning the Union of South American Nations, UNASUR in the event Argentina manages to modify the mechanism for the nomination to the chair of the organization, thus imposing its candidate former president Nestor Kirchner, which Uruguay rejects point blank.