Why Uruguay
The Oriental Republic of Uruguay is a country of 3 million inhabitants located in South America. Administratively divided in19 departments, its territory have an extension of 176.215 km2 which makes it the second smallest country of the subcontinent. Situated between Argentina and Brazil, Uruguay has its costs on the "Rio de la Plata" and the Atlantic Ocean.
According to the United Nations Uruguay is the Latin American country with the highest level of literacy.
Its Population has free access to education from kindergarten up to university degree.
According to "The World Factbook" the literacy rate is at 98%, the highest in Latin America, followed by Argentina (97.1%) and Cuba (97.0%).
A study published by International Transparency indicates that Uruguay is the Latin American country that has the lowest perception of corruption along with Chile.
According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), is the third country in Latin America after Argentina and Chile that has the highest Human Development Index (HDI).
Uruguay is (along with Costa Rica) the Latin American country with the most equitable income distribution, taking the ratio between the income of the richest 10% and the poorest 10% of the population.
Uruguay is the third country in South America (after
Argentina and Chile), with the highest GDP per capita and the ninth country in Latin America (after Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador respectively) with the highest GDP.
Uruguay is also the fifth Latin American country (after Cuba, Costa Rica, Chile and Ecuador respectively), with the highest life expectancy.
Number of Inhabitants: 3.323.906 (2007)
Annual Population Growth Rate: 0.305%
Density (population per km2): 18,8
Life Expectancy at birth: 75,85 years
Infant Mortality Rate: 10,5/1000
Literacy Rate: 97%
Religion: No official religion (Catholics 56%, non-religious 38%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%)
Nationality: Uruguayan
Language: Spanish
Source: Uruguay XXI
GDP (2007): 23.136 million dollars
GDP per capita (2007): 6.960 dollars
GDP composition by sector (2007):
- agriculture and fishing – 12,6%
- manufacturing and mining – 20 %
- electricity, gas and water – 4%
- construction – 2,6%
- transport, comunications – 13,8%
- trade, restaurants and hotels – 12,8%
- financial services, insurance, housing and business services – 20,1%
- other services – 14,1%
Inflation: 8,5% (2007)
Unemployment Rate: 8,2 % (2007)
Goods Export: 4.496 (million dollars) (2007)
Main Products (2007): Meat, Cereals, Dairy products and honey, Leather and leather products, Wood and vegetal charcoal, Wool, Oilseeds, Fruit, Plastics and thereof, Fish, Crustaceans, Bituminous materials and mineral fuels.
Major Partners: Brazil (16,4%), USA (10,8%), Argentina (8,4%), Mexico (4,6%), Germany (4,5%), China (3,54%),
Spain (3,34%)
Goods Importation: 5.589 (million dollars) (2007)
Net Public Debt: 16.319 (million dollars) (2007)
Number of Inhabitants per Doctor: 260
Population supplied with drinking water: 98%
Electrification rate: 98%
Cars per 100 inhabitants: 19
Digital Telephone Network: 100%
Fixed telephones per 100 inhabitants: 30
Cell phones per 100 inhabitants: 76
Density of the Internet: 21%
In recent years the software industry in Uruguay has shown a constant dynamism while incorporating high added value content to the economy.
Exports have grown steadily as well as products and markets diversification.
Uruguayan software companies have a strong knowledge of development and marketing of "commercial packs" while being familiarized in external markets operation. Have acquired a high level of productivity and have the necessary qualities to compete in the global marketplace: entrepreneurial spirit, ability to technically adapt to changing technology, potential and expertise specializing -and exploiting- the opportunities provided by specific niches market.
These companies also have a solid professional base for managing their activities.
This sector presents a highly qualified group of engineers, system analysts and coders with technical skills able to develop comprehensive information systems.
Additionally to their technical skills, IT professionals have a very good command of English a second language.
From a business point of view, salary costs are very competitive since they are 25% lower tha in Argentina and 65% lower than in the United States.
The main advantages of the software industry in Uruguay are:
- Ability to develop "Software Packages"
- Exporting companies have a thorough knowledge of Latin American market
- Uruguay is geographically close to Sao Paulo (Brazil) and Buenos Aires (Argentina) markets, which are important software, integrated systems and "just in time" services claimants.
- Availability of highly qualified human resources at a very competitive costs in the international market.