'Uruguay Technology' Technology

Uruguay Technology

Some consumer goods appear to be junky. Some feel that the big companies dump crap they can't sell elsewhere in Central or South America.

A former CEO of a large company offered a different explanation and specific example. He said that because of the high import taxes instead of sending their final product, they had to send some parts to Argentina and have the final machines assembled there. The assembled would use some parts from the main company and some sourced in Argentina.

The result was a machine that was produced with less control and different (cheaper) parts. He said they just never performed to the standards the company had set. It also seemed that the company itself had as much grief as many of the consumers.

When it comes to technology for example, the laptop computers here are much more expensive than in the US or Europe, as such they only tend to stock the more basic models because with all the taxes added on they cost the same as a decent up-to-speed one elsewhere. Today a Samsung n310 laptop is listed on Tienda Inglesa for US$669, the same laptop is available on Tiger Direct in the US for US$229!

You can keep up to speed on Uruguayan prices by checking out the Tienda Inglesa website, Devoto website or NHD also do some electrical goods. All the links are available in the article about the cost of living in the Total Uruguay Expat Guide

In November 2008 I ordered a timer/controller with a built-in 120 hour reserve battery to control my swimming pool pump. Yesterday it arrived.

Of course the program to give a laptop to every school kids in the country is a great step. But when they are ready for something more advanced its difficult when the import taxes keep it affordable.

I'm not sure anyplace has developed growth in software because of the government.

I must confess a degree of self-interest in that various past governments' efforts to prevent so called progress in the ROU are in my best interests. I moved here BECAUSE it is a 1960s style tax-and-spend welfare state which generally views entrepreneurs and industrialists as scum, services for the elderly are good, the roads are empty and competitive consumerism is confined to the few 1st world enclaves.

Its not that the people are ignorant of the advantages and drawbacks of the modern world... it just that a majority seem to prefer the old ways of doing things and will do all they can to resist change. Most of those who think differently tend to move away.

A small case in point... there is an ANCAP distillery about half a mile from my house. Its beautifully maintained by a staff of three and has produced no whisky since 1989. My family is well connected with whiskey making in Co Antrim in Northern Ireland so I approached ANCAP with proposals for a licence/ joint venture/ any other sort of arrangement to bring the distillery back on line making a high quality product to compete with the better imported varieties. The raw materials are available locally as is the necessary labour and such a scheme would offer local investment opportunities in the form of maturing whiskey. My proposal was greeted by ANCAP with more disdain than suggesting that we burn the national flag and/or desecrate Artigas's tomb :-)

I've come to the conclusion that the ROU economy is how it is because a majority of the population likes it this way... myself included in spite of the lack of good whiskey at affordable prices :-)

Yesss!!! Most definitely, the state should get out of the way in terms of the taxes it imposes which stifle progress. However, the state HAS a role in encouraging investment from within and from abroad. And notice, I am using the word "state" and not "government". In other words, I believe that it should be state policy, and not merely the policy of any particular government which happens to be in office, to encourage investment in this particular area of the economy. The total absence of rules and regulations enforced by the state can create chaos. Let's not forget what just happened to Wall Street thanks to de-regulation...

There are endless technologically related opportunities here that require no significant investment that would accomplish just that. What they require is a shift of mind frame for people to see what can be done in today's technology world.

But it's easy for me to say that, since I have the advantages of having grown up in a place where I did not face these barriers to progress, and having had a career in technology, which enables me to live and work almost anywhere. Although I love Uruguay as it is right now, I would also love to see the young generations of Uruguayans enjoy those same advantages -- if it's what they choose for themselves. If not, then I am content.

Greater rewards only come from taking greater risks, and not everyone is willing to trade their feeling of security for the chance of greater rewards, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Fortunately, there is room for each individual to choose to live in a place where the blend of opportunities for economic advancement and the pace of the lifestyle suit that individual's preferences. For me, at this time in my life, Uruguay suits my preferences.

I quite agree.

"Greater rewards only come from taking greater risks, and not everyone is willing to trade their feeling of security for the chance of greater rewards, and there's nothing wrong with that."

You're right there. Over the past 2 weeks I have been trying to get a suitable person to countersign the renewal form for my Irish passport without success. My escribana is on holiday so I took it to her assistant asking for a signature and stamp... but no, she doesn't feel that she can take the "risk." My bank accepted the form and promised to do it but when I returned next day I was told that head office feels that the bank cannot take the "risk." On to the police station but the Jefe also feels that witnessing my signature is much too "risky" for him. On Tuesday next I have an appointment to see the deputy head mistress of the local school who is famed for her risk-taking ways... but I'm not counting on her signing the bl**dy form :-)

Of course there is no risk involved in witnessing an applicant's signature but I suppose risk is in the eye of the beholder and Orientales seem to be particularly averse to even the risk of risk.

Why are they going to change when their doing good. If it's not broken don't fix it.

When you listen to elect President Mujica a few days ago, he promises to keep the direction that President Vazquez took in the last 5 years.

Promising not to kill the investors"la gallina de los huevos de oro" with taxes etc.

That is why I'm very surprised at what Patrick said about Ancap, because if they have a place and it's not being used for production and they only spend money in maintenance with no plans for the future and the offer is fair. I don't understand what went wrong. That is not the image that this Government tries to project to investors.

Comment #9 "notice I am using the word "state" and not "government". In other words, I believe that it should be state policy, and not merely the policy of any particular government which happens to be in office, to encourage investment in this particular area of the economy."

Dan you may be happy to know that this is (kind of) in the works! I went to a conference in La Universidad de la Republica in November which was attended by agri bosses, business men, politicians, academics and members of multiple development organizations. They were debuting the basic structure of Uruguay's first 30 year plan :)

Most countries have development plans that outline steps and goals to be taken throughout the terms of multiple governments, but they were saying that until now Uruguay didn't have one of these and they have been very careful in drawing it up.

It was shockingly practical and controlled. They outlined in detail the GRADUAL development they hope to follow in each area and made it clear that they were NOT aiming to get super rich over night or follow the money hungry ways of my once fine Emerald Isle, but they do plan to invest in and encourage advancement across a number of areas (including technology).

As with everything in Uruguay it is bound to be a slow process, but its nice to see that they're doing it THEIR way, maybe the tranquilo ways of Uruguay won't be lost in the desire to advance...here's hoping!

"That is why I'm very surprised at what Patrick said about Ancap, because if they have a place and it's not being used for production and they only spend money in maintenance with no plans for the future and the offer is fair. I don't understand what went wrong. That is not the image that this Government tries to project to investors."

Their views were that commercial distilling is a national monopoly which they will defend against all comers so that it remains a national monopoly unsullied by evil capitalist exploiters and that ANCAP already makes excellent whisky (which of course it does not.)

I've come to the conclusion that there is a whole mountain range of differences between the government/politicians and the execs/funcionarios who actually run the various state enterprises.

On the other hand, you could view them as a wise government who reckon that a semi-retired old boy like me would be better off without the stress of running a business. They may well be right :-)

I've heard talk of a proposed assembly plant for Indian noddy cars... perhaps he meant these? We've had various Chinese assembly plants come and go... Effa is currently building one alongside Ruta 1 in San Jose depto.

Dramatic stories of Uru-innovation tend to recur every so often. A couple of years ago we had a local inventor who produced a compressed air powered "motorcycle." The problems came in (a) trying to find a pump capable of putting 200 atmospheres into two heavy tanks which were (b) suspended a few inches above our somewhat rough roads. If one of the valves was knocked off, I fear it would have converted the bike into a low flying missile and would surely have ended in tears. So as far as I know, the project came to nought. :-)

LOL!!! You crack me up! I remember reading a few years back about a motion sensitive device invented in ROU that was supposed to be placed inside coffins to alert the family of the deceased in case they came back to life.

And by the way, I just read somewhere that the "100% Uruguayan eco car" to be used during the presidential inauguration is really Chinese-made. A local entrepeneur just made some adjustments to make the engine electric... Oh well...

If the car demonstrates typical Chinese reliability AND has been mucked about with by local entrepreneurs, it will probably strand Pepe half way to the podium.

Mind you, he is no doubt used to such problems as he drives an ancient VW Beetle himself.

I won't put Money on it but you never know maybe we have another "Genexus",

and somebody will LOL.

Now, there is something about any discussion that can transform the most silly chat into an international affair. Definitions.

We all know numbers and statistics are, at least, something you must consider on very limited bases and carefully checking the methodology and sources. But the words themselves are very tricky. We might all agree on what tree means (even though we might thing actually in a different tree...but a tree after all)but this is not clear when we are talking about more obscure concepts, as freedom, democracy, and progress.

So, what is progress? I do not have the right answer, but according to my standards I am very sure that I have not yet found a country in this world I could call developed or "progressed" :) I would say we are progressing when we are facing NEW problems. Nowadays, as I see it, we are facing the same problems we had 3000 years ago, we have different tools, we have different perspectives, but the problems are the same.

I do not want to start a discussion about this, what I am trying to say is that progress is not a linear thing, there is not a certain destiny to go, no models to follow. We are rediscovering things our grand grand parents already knew...I read that a Japanese scientific study determined that a short snap, a siesta, helps employees to increase productivity and make people feel better, more creative, healthy and full of energy. Ejem...We knew that! We have been doing that for centuries, until we heard some "new" theories and let some people convinced us that siestas decrease productivity...I belong to the generation who can hardly have a snap...As you read this I am sure you have thought about many others examples :)

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