Uruguay como centro de distribución regional

Infrastructure: Uruguay has a developed road system, well maintained, whose centers begin in the Capital City and the Port of Montevideo.
There are three international bridges across the River Uruguay uniting Argentina and Uruguay.
At the moment there is a project to build a bridge from Colonia - Uruguay to Buenos Aires - Argentina 36 kilometers in length.

Uruguay is linked to Brazil by four highways.

The railway system is fanned out from Montevideo to the rest of the country, it represents an economic option for cargo and transport over its 3000 kilometers of railroad tracks.

International Relations : Uruguay is completely integrated to the international community bilaterally (by way of its Embassies and Consulates) as well as by different international organizations, the United Nations and t he Organization of American States.

As of March 26th, 1991 after the signature of the Tratado de Asuncion (Asuncion Treaty) Uruguay is part of the Mercado Comun del Sur (MERCOSUR) or (Southern Cone Market) along with Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, a group consisting of more than 200 million people, with an approximately 200 million dollar Gross Domestic Product trying to establish a common market in the region, with an already set common duty until the 31st of December, 2000 between 17% to 23% depending on the products and with organizations and common commercial policies.

The Protocolo of Ouro Preto (Ouro Preto Protocol) signed in 1994 decided that the Sede Administrativa del Mercosur (Administrative Headquarters of the Southern Cone) have its seat in Montevideo.

The building which houses Administrative Headquarters - Parque Hotel - was constructed in 1910 in the art deco style. It is located on the coastal boulevard of Montevideo. The first floor has a total area of 3,600 squared meters, 8,000 squared meters of f acade, 1,500 squared meters of parking space and 4,000 squared meters of garden.
It is located a scant ten minutes from the downtown area of the city.

The building was inaugarated last December by the four Presidents of the Mercosur Countries.

Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports

Law No. 15,921 of December 17, 1987, regulates the operation of free trade zones within the country. The law allows storage and warehousing, manufacturing, and financial, data processing or other related activity to take place within free trade zones. St ate-owned and operated, state-owned but privately operated, and private sector-owned free trade zones are located throughout the country. Free zone locations include Colonia, Nueva Palmira, Montevideo, Fray Bentos, Florida, Rivera, Nueva Helvecia, San Jose and Libertad. Mercosur regulations treat products manufactured in all member-state free trade zones as extra-territorial and so manufacturing in Uruguayan free trade zones by a Uruguayan or foreign firm will not provide for Mercosur customs union advan tages.

The following advantages are granted by law to both local and foreign-owned industries operating in a free zone:
1. Users of free trade zones are exempt from all domestic taxes in effect or which may be created. The only tax not covered by this exemption is employer contributions to social security for Uruguay n employees.
Uruguayans must comprise 75 percent of the labor force employed by the user of the zone. The employer is free from payment of social security taxes for non-Uruguayan employees if those employees waive coverage under the Uruguayan Social Security.

2. Goods, services, products or raw materials of foreign and Uruguayan origin may be entered into the zones, held there, processed, and re-exported without payment of Uruguayan customs duties and import taxes (goods of Uruguayan origin r eentering into free zones will be treated as Uruguay an exports for all tax and other legal purposes). Goods entering into Uruguayan customs territory from free zones are subject to customs duties and import taxes.

3. Industrial or commercial government monopolies are not allowed within free trade zones.

MERCOSUR

The Government seeks to build upon the success of Mercosur, which has, since its creation in 1991, established a free- trade zone among Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with the exception of certain remaining trade barriers that are subject to a transitional regime.

Mercosur has not only increased trade and led to the beginning of implementation of a customs union in the area, but also attracted foreign investment to Uruguay, which in turn has led to infrastructure projects and spurred economic d evelopment generally. Chile and Bolivia recently became associate members of Mercosur.

Vea también:

- Información del puerto
- Actividades portuarias
- Uruguay como centro de distribución regional