• Strongest social and political stability in Latin America¹
• Continued economic growth and investment despite global slump: compound annual growth rate in 2004-2009: 6.1%
• Attractive free zone, free port and free airport regimes, and broad investment-related tax exemptions²
• Access to MERCOSUR, a US$2-trillion-GDP free trade zone that also includes Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay
• Best labor value for money in the region³
• Highest internet, broadband and PC penetration in Latin America⁴
• Most reliable electric supply in Latin America⁵
• World-class free port facilities in Montevideo, the strategic regional hub for South America's Southern Cone region
• Nice weather and absence of natural disasters; plus abundance of water Lowest business costs of crime and violence in Latin America⁶

1) Based on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2009, The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index 2008 and Heritage Foundation’s Economic Freedom Index 2010
2) Users of Free Zones are exempt from all taxes created or to be created in the future. Goods are exempt from all import levies within free ports and free airports. Investment projects may qualify for corporate income tax rebates ranging from 51% to 100% of the amount invested, plus rebates of other taxes.
3) Based on tertiary education enrollment and adult literacy rate comparisons, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2009/2010 and United Nation’s Human Development Restarport 2009, respectively, and on PwC’s regional monthly wages comparisons.
4) Based on Latin Business Chronicle's Latin Technology 2010 Index and World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2009/2010
5) Based on World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2009/2010, quality of electricity supply indicator based on lack of interruptions and lack of voltage fluctuations
6) Based on World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2009/2010

In Uruguay, the government promotes investment in general and maintains a favorable policy toward foreign investment. The general system is completely open and does not discriminate between foreign and domestic investors. As such, the foreign investor enjoys the same benefits as the local investor, and no prior authorization is required for foreign investments.

From a business standpoint, the foreign investor may select from several methods if he or she wishes to create a company in the country. Operations can be performed by creating a corporation (sociedad anónima or SA in Spanish), the most frequently used vehicle where 100% of shares may be owned. A limited liability company (sociedad de responsabilidad limitada or SRL in Spanish) may also be established, made up of partners that may be physical or legal persons (national or foreign). Another alternative for the investor is to operate in the country through a branch of a foreign company. Other less frequently used company types include the general partnership (sociedad colectiva), limited partnership (sociedad en comandita), silent partnerships (sociedad de capital e industria) and de facto partnerships (sociedad de hecho). Consortiums and economic interest groups may also be established as well as sole proprietorships for undertakings by individuals.