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Not many people see dollar signs when they think of Uruguay, a postage stamp of a country often confused with Paraguay and just a boat ride away from Argentina's capital Buenos Aires.
That you might not know much about the country says little about how you'd do in a geography bee. It might have more to do with Uruguay’s leaders' knack for staying out of the headlines by running a country that produces a lot of stability, terrific quality of life, and very little drama.
Oh, there was plenty of drama over the centuries as European powers struggled for control of the continent's riches. Later, power devolved to the much bigger powers of Brazil and Argentina who took turns putting the squeeze on their little neighbor and interfering in its politics. Once independence was secured in the mid 1800's, there followed rule by the military, giving way in 1985 to the present constitutional form of government with strong legislative and judicial branches. The legislature legalized marijuana and same-sex marriage in 2013, establishing the country as one of the more liberal on the continent.
The current President José Mujica, avuncular and down to earth, is a former political dissident who spent 15 years in jail, was just in Washington, DC to meet with President Obama and accept some Guantanamo prisoners who no other country wanted anything to do with.
This not inconsequential gesture illustrates the bond that exists between the U.S. and Uruguay. In terms of trade there is a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), often a step short of an FTA, though there is nothing under consideration at the moment. The TIFA contains some of the same features, including IPR protections and harmonized standards. Tariff rates are generally low.
Trade and other relations with Europe are also good, though Uruguay will not allow British ships to resupply en route to the Falkland Islands in deference to Argentina, which fought a brief but nasty war over control of that real estate.
As a market itself Uruguay is small, but that's not the primary reason for considering it, even though per capita income is more than $17,000 annually.
A much better reason is to use the country and its entrepreneurs as a launching pad into the southern cone, especially Brazil. Uruguay has excellent logistics and its distributors can help foreign suppliers enter the larger adjacent markets. Its container port is the most advanced in South America, and Carrasco International Airport consistently ranks near the top of surveys of such things. With a good banking and legal system, low taxes and intolerance for corruption, the county has many admirable attributes for the investor and opportunity-seeker.
It always helps to enjoy and be comfortable in the places you go for business. The dining and music scene in Montevideo has come to the attention of the international jet set, as explained in this recent 36-hours piece in the New York Times.
Better still for WPG members, there's WPG Uruguay, a partnership with the World Trade Center in Montevideo, ready and able to provide information, business counseling and matchmaking services. For U.S. businesses and Uruguayans looking for U.S. products and services, the U.S. Commercial Service has a small office there.
So whether you’re looking to sell some products there or consider it as a lily pad for jumping into the region, it’s time to take a good look at a good place—Uruguay.
| Product Model | Inside Diameter | Outside Diameter | Thickness |
| PPMF121409 bearing | 12 | 14 | 9 |
| PCMF353926E bearing | 35 | 39 | 26 |