Tom Olavi: “A safe environment like Uruguay’s is something that increasingly interests people”

The second edition of the Uruguay Global Services Day was the stage for the talk of the German Tom Olavi, a recognized expert in global services, shared services, outsourcing, and offshoring, who shared his vision of Uruguay’s opportunities to attract international investment.

Invited by Uruguay XXI, Olavi spoke about global trends in service centers and highlighted key aspects that the country could use to differentiate itself in the global market.

“What most people in Europe and North America know about Uruguay is football (soccer),” said Olavi, referring to the country’s international fame for its success in the sport. According to the expert, Uruguay could transform that notoriety into a competitive advantage for business: “If such a small place can create so much success in soccer, with the same attitude and the same environment for your business, you can get the same results”.

For Olavi, who owns and runs ConAxia and heads ABSL Dach, as well as being Director of Data Development and Research at SSON Analytics, Uruguay’s reputation in soccer is a metaphor for business success. “Nobody understands how small the country is considering its football (soccer) fame. And that is a riddle to me: how is it possible that you are so successful?” he added, suggesting that this approach could attract companies looking for that combination of motivation, talent, and results.

In addition to soccer, Olavi stressed the importance of promoting Uruguay’s stability in an increasingly uncertain world. “Companies hate instability more than anything else. Uruguay can guarantee stability, which makes it interesting,” he commented. For him, this is a key differential compared to other countries in the region, and he considered that Uruguay should highlight this aspect without the need to compare itself with its neighbors.

In his opinion, Uruguay should focus on its ability to offer both agility and stability, a rare combination in the region and attractive to European and North American investors.

He mentioned concrete examples such as BASF and Roche, two large European companies already present in Uruguay, and suggested that these success stories attract the attention of more foreign companies. “Generic stories can be told by all countries, but these practical examples that Uruguay has, with well-known names, work better,” he explained.

Olavi concluded that, with the right approach, Uruguay can attract more investment, highlighting its unique strengths: enviable stability and global success in diverse areas, which, if well translated into the business world, can turn the country into a magnet for new opportunities.

Learn more about the Global Services sector in Uruguay here.