Tabaré Vázquez: Neither the most powerful countries can advance in solitude

The president of Uruguay, Tabaré Vázquez, stressed today in front of Mexican businessmen that in a globalized world neither the most powerful countries can advance in solitude, in a clear message contrary to protectionism and in favor of international trade.

Mexico, Nov 15 (EFE) .- The president of Uruguay, Tabaré Vázquez, today emphasized in front of Mexican businessmen that in a globalized world neither the most powerful countries can advance in loneliness, in a clear message against protectionism and for international trade.

We must "generate favorable conditions for Uruguay to continue progressing, and I am convinced that alone we can not do it. Uruguayan president participated this Wednesday in a business breakfast in Mexico City in which he sought to capture the interest of Mexican investors by appealing to political stability, economic and social of the South American country.

He explained that Uruguay is today a "reliable" country, with an institutional structure and "democratic solidity, political stability and security legal, transparency and governance ", which allowed them to grow to 4.1% on average in the last decade.

Vázquez indicated that his country is a large recipient of foreign investment direct (IED), in areas such as construction, agriculture, manufacturing, livestock or reforestation.

In this context, he pointed out that the nation is working on a infrastructure plan of more than 12,500 million dollars, which requires the interest of foreign investors.

Uruguay is the only Mercosur partner with which Mexico has an Free Trade Agreement (FTA), recalled Vázquez.

It came into force in 2004 and, until now, the agreement has caused bilateral trade to have tripled, from 136 million dollars to 506 million dollars.

Based on this, the Uruguayan president reinforced the idea that the nations alone can not advance in the contemporary world.

Thus, broke a launches in favor of trade agreements and Mexico, which this Friday takes up a tough renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the United States and Canada.

Uruguay's progress "alone we can not do it, we need the support of all, and that is why I have come here, to invite you personally and on behalf of the national Government to together let us deepen even more the strong bonds that unite us, "he said.

Next, the promotion agencies Uruguay XXI and Proméxico signed a memorandum of understanding.

Tabaré Vázquez's visit to Mexico began on Tuesday and will continue until next Thursday.

In a busy schedule, on Monday he participated in the inauguration of the World Summit of Leaders against Cancer along with his Mexican counterpart, Enrique Peña Nieto.

With the president of Mexico, he held an official meeting hours later in which they signed agreements in commercial, diplomatic and academic matters.

Among other activities, there is a meeting with the Uruguayan community in Mexico and its intervention in the XVI International Congress. Hospital del Futuro, where he will talk about public policies for the control of smoking.