Uruguay Week returns to China

The Uruguay Week in China will take place this year between August 19 and 22 in the cities of Beijing, Tianjin and Shenzhen, organized by Uruguay XXI with the support of the Embassy of Uruguay in China. In 2018, this promotional activity brought together more than 800 businessmen, government authorities and the press in the cities of Beijing, Chongqing and Guangzhou.

Last year both nations strengthened their ties by celebrating the 30th anniversary of the re-establishment of their diplomatic relations. Other milestones include the agreement signed by Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa, which made Uruguay the first Mercosur country to join the 21st Century Silk Road, a Chinese initiative known as "One Belt One Road". In addition, the Consulate General of Uruguay was inaugurated in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

This year, the Uruguay Week in China will be headed by the Minister of Industry Guillermo Moncecchi. The executive director of Uruguay XXI, Antonio Carámbula, and the Uruguayan ambassador in China, Fernando Lugris, will also participate.

The objective is to continue positioning the country as a gateway to Latin America and a hub for business, logistics and technology, as well as a destination for investments in infrastructure, agribusiness, clean energy and corporate services, among others. It will also focus on the positioning of our goods and services.

These country promotion actions will include a business seminar, a culinary presentation, which will allow us to taste the best Uruguayan products and continue to position our exportable offer of reliable and quality food, and musical shows of tango and candombe.

The first activity will be held on Monday 19 in the city of Beijing and will feature the participation of Uruguayan authorities and the deputy director general of the Department of Foreign Capital and Overseas Investments of the National Development and Reform Commission, Wu Hongliang.

On Tuesday, August 20, Uruguay's Week in China arrives in Tainjin, an important port city in northeastern China. The president of the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade of Tianjin, the sub-councilor, Zu Daxiang, will be present. Meanwhile, on Thursday August 22 in Shenzhen, the epicenter of technology in China, there will be a presentation of Uruguay focused on this sector. The vice-president of the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade of Shenzhen will be present, Tang Jin and Huawei will present the experience of the company doing business in our country.

Prior to this promotional tour, the "Uruguay Day at Expo Beijing" will be held on Sunday, August 18. Expo Beijing is the largest horticultural exhibition in Asia, where Uruguay has a country stand, coordinated by Uruguay XXI. During the activity, part of the highlights of the musical heritage will be displayed with tango and electronic candombe shows.

Uruguay's stand at Expo Beijing has been open since April and will remain active until the beginning of October under the slogan "Meet life, meet Uruguay". In this exhibition, the country is presented as a producer of reliable food, a leader in technology and a global reference in renewable energy.

After Uruguay's week in China, the delegation will leave for Hong Kong. There, Uruguay XXI will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. In Chongqing, the minister will make a presentation at the Smart Expo technology fair, where Uruguay will have a country stand. At the same time, in Guagnzhou, Uruguay XXI will participate in the OBOR forum (One Belt, One Road).

Uruguay XXI is also carrying out a digital promotion strategy, which aims to strengthen its positioning, with content that is disseminated in the various social networks of the Asian country. In parallel, the agency manages its platforms www.investinuruguay.uy and www.buyfromuruguay.uy in Chinese, promoting the commercial link between both nations.

Since 2013, China has been Uruguay's first trading partner. In 2018 exchanges reached US$ 2324 million and a 26% participation in the country's total exports, with a favorable trade balance for Uruguay.