The memorandum of understanding was attended by the Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Elisa Facio and the United States ambassador to Uruguay, Heide Fulton.
This Wednesday, the Uruguayan government signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States, through which they seek bilateral cooperation to develop areas linked to digital transformation, the second energy transition and biotechnology.
From the Uruguayan technology sector they see the initiative "with excellent eyes" given that it will allow them to expand commercial opportunities in that market that today already represents 80% of Uruguayan exports of technological services.
Foreign Minister Omar Paganini stated yesterday at a press conference that the agreement “will provide a framework to highlight new technologies”, as well as imply a “back and forth discussion” between both countries on current challenges in technological and energy terms.
In this sense, the leader explained that the agreement involves “cutting-edge areas” such as: semiconductors, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, telecommunications, “clean energy” projects and biotechnology.
For her part, the Undersecretary of International Trade of the United States Department of Commerce, Marisa Lago, stated that the agreement “marks a crucial moment” in the relationship between both countries and “recognizes the impressive economic strength of Uruguay.”
According to Lago, Uruguay is an “ideal partner” for the United States “when it comes to critical and emerging technologies” due to its internet connectivity rate of 90%, “the highest in Latin America” and for the generation of electricity in more than 98% from renewable sources.
“In the United States we look at it with envy and as a goal that we must achieve,” remarked the leader.
With the signing of the agreement, a bilateral working group is launched dedicated to “promoting shared objectives” between both countries in these “critical and emerging technologies.”
For the Uruguayan Chamber of Information Technologies (CUTI), the agreement with the United States “is super positive” because it establishes a working group that allows working based on interests and opportunities “in a broad spectrum”, such as artificial intelligence and digital transformation. This was indicated by the general secretary of the CUTI, Amilcar Perea.
“The prestige of the national industry opens up an important series of possibilities. We see it with excellent eyes. Uruguay and the technology industry need to continue opening markets and opportunities, but in this case it is with the United States, a country with conditions that we already manage, is a double satisfaction because it means continuing to deepen the opening of that market. It will generate opportunities in a territory whose size, importance and capacity for generating business is enormous,” Perea reflected.
Likewise, the secretary general of the CUTI said that the memorandum of understanding gives “a strong signal” for the private sector to continue doing business. “This type of agreement opens up possibilities for us. Our companies are capable of doing business but what we need are the conditions to develop them and this declaration is very valuable for that reason,” he indicated.
From the working group, the specific activities in which both countries will collaborate will be determined, as well as in the development and execution of an action plan on "cutting-edge technology" opportunities.
In addition to Paganini and Lago, the memorandum of understanding was attended by the Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Elisa Facio and the United States ambassador to Uruguay, Heide Fulton.
