URUGUAY

• Capital – Montevideo
• Official language – Spanish
• Currency – Uruguayan Peso
 THE PEOPLE
• Majority of the people are middle class

• A great deal of emphasis is placed on education.

• The literacy rate is 96%, one of the highest in South America.

• Uruguay has the best-educated workforce on the continent.

 Cultural Etiquettes
Meeting and Greeting
• Greetings are warm and accompanied by a firm handshake.
• Friends kiss once on the right cheek when meeting.
• People do not greet strangers while walking on the streets.
• Greeting or smiling at a stranger maybe misunderstood.
• People are very casual about time for social events. An invitation for
9:00 p.m. usually means to arrive by 10:00 p.m. Uruguayans usually
dine at 9:00 or 10:00 p.m.
• If invited by a Uruguayan to his/her home for coffee after dinner, it
is improper to stay late on a work night .
 Cultural Etiquettes
Body Language
• Uruguayans stand very close when conversing, both socially and in
business.
• People touch shoulders and hold arms while they talk to each other.
• The “ch-ch” sound is used to get someone's attention or to get a
bus to stop.
• The North American “O.K.” sign is extremely rude.
• People brush the backs of their hands under their chins to signal “I
don't know.”
• It is extremely impolite to use a toothpick in public.
 Cultural Etiquettes
Dressing
• Uruguayans dress conservatively and seldom wear the bright colors
popular elsewhere in South America.
• Women may not wear nylons during the summer. Uruguayan men
may not wear ties or jackets in the summer.

Gift giving
• Women love flowers, especially roses. A rare, salmon-colored tea
rose is a favorite.
• It is polite and common for guests to send candy or flowers to a
hostess before the occasion.
 Business Etiquettes
• Meetings are extremely formal, but don't usually start on time.
• Kinship and friendship play a major role in business transactions.
Expertise and experience are less important than who you are.
• Business cards are presented to everyone in a meeting.
• A highly trained and educated businessperson may be working at a
low-level position due to exile, imprisonment or political affiliation.
It is rude to ask questions.
• Many executives speak English, but it is better to arrange for an
interpreter.
 Business Etiquettes
• Uruguayans are comfortable conducting business over lunch.
• Business dinners are to socialize. Usually the host initiates the
business conversation.
• For business, men wear conservative, dark suits and ties.
• Women wear blouses with dark suits, skirts and dresses.
• Gift giving is not an important part of doing business. Scotch (Black
Label or Chivas Regal) and gifts made in your region are
appreciated.
Especially for Women
• A foreign woman will have no problem doing business in Uruguay. It
may even be an advantage. Men like to be with and enjoy doing
business with women.

Helpful Hints
• Uruguayans are extremely political people. Ask about politics.
• Ask questions about Uruguay. People are very proud of their
country.
• Don't confuse Paraguay and Uruguay.
 India’s exports to Uruguay
• Plastics
• Inorganic chemicals
• Other chemicals
• Vehicles
• Pharmaceuticals
 Petroleum oils (not crude)
(Figures of 2008 in USD)

• India exports 31.55 Billion of Petroleum oils to the world.

• Uruguay imports 0.89 Billion of Petroleum oils, but not from India.
• Petroleum oils form a major part of India’s exports. Hence, India has
a big opportunity to export the same to Uruguay.