Proexport+ 2019 supported 154 Uruguayan companies to reach international markets

The 2019 edition of Proexport+, the program that accompanies companies in their internationalization process, closed its call in December 2019 with support to 154 Mipymes for a total amount granted of USD 1,948,422. According to data provided by the supported companies, exports reached USD 1,320,398 so far.

The program is managed by the agency for investment promotion, exports and country brand, Uruguay XXI, in the framework of Transforma Uruguay - National System for Productive Transformation and Competitiveness, financed by the National Development Agency (ANDE), the National Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (INEFOP) and the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM), with the support of the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII).

Of 246 companies that applied, 154 were selected to receive the benefits of the program. During the evaluation, aspects such as export potential, business track record, probability of success in projects, generation of externalities, scalability and differential value of the companies were taken into account.

Of the beneficiaries, 75% are service providers and 25% are goods providers. Of the total number of beneficiaries, 45% are micro enterprises, 32% are small enterprises and 22% are medium-sized enterprises.

The program provides support through flexible co-financing adapted to the requirements of each project, with the aim of providing companies with new skills and promoting actions in foreign markets, in order to enhance their competitiveness and facilitate their international insertion.

The companies were able to access three types of support. The first consisted of co-financing for a maximum of USD 10,000 for the preparation of an internationalization plan of up to 24 months, the second in a non-reimbursable contribution of USD 30,000 for the execution of the plan and the third in the concession of up to USD 3,000 per year for the participation of trade promotion activities abroad.

For the first support modality, USD 298,601 were allocated and distributed among 44 companies selected from a total of 61 applicants. Of these, 59% are service providers and 36% are goods providers. Sectors such as design (23%), ICTs (20%), food (16%) and audiovisuals (14%) predominated. Micro-sized companies were the most represented (52%), followed by small (32%) and medium sized (16%).

For the implementation of internationalization projects, Proexport+ provided support of USD 1,470,409 to 57 companies, of which 21 have so far achieved exports for a total amount of USD 748,248, according to the activity reports submitted.

In this case, the service sector (61%) was also predominant over the goods sector (37%). In terms of the characterization of the sectors, those dedicated to ICTs had an outstanding presence, since they represented 33%, followed by the food and beverage and architecture and engineering sectors, each with 14%, then the design sector with 12% and the creative industries with 9%.

Unlike the first one, in this modality of support the beneficiaries were mostly the largest companies. Medium-sized companies accounted for 37%, small companies for 42% and micro companies for 21%.

The largest target markets indicated by the companies were the United States (39%), followed by Paraguay (33%), Brazil (32%), Mexico (32%) and Argentina (26%).

In addition, legal advice was provided for access to tenders abroad or for the registration of trademarks, preparation of prototypes and samples to be sent to potential clients.

Proexport+ also provided support to 76 companies for a total of USD 179,412 to participate in various activities abroad such as fairs, events, trade missions and technological missions. The preferred destinations for these activities were the United States (28%) and Spain (13%).

According to data provided by the companies supported in this modality, exports reached so far USD 632,150, which means that for every dollar invested during the program there was a return of USD 3.5.

To learn more about the program, interested parties may access www.uruguayxxi.gub.uy/proexport.