Colled On Presidential

Uruguayan IT industry association Cuti has called on presidential candidates Luis Alberto Lacalle and Jose "Pepe" Mujica to not only beef up the country's tech industry, but also use IT to spur development in other industries.Cuti's general manager, Irene González, pointed out that Uruguay is best known for farming and livestock industries, and added that smaller sectors could also turn into economic powerhouses with greater IT use."I think that this is something on which Uruguay has to focus much more," she told BNamericas. "Other industries that are important for the country's development must try to increase their technology use to provide value-added exports, increase productivity and allow the entire country to go a step further in terms of development."Cuti's proposals for strengthening the country's IT sector include more research programs, bilingual education and new regulations."The state is one of the principal technology purchasers at the internal market level," she said. "Many times the government does not use its purchasing power on local companies, but rather ends up buying from international companies. I think that the government could be a good market driver."Both presidential frontrunners have committed themselves to developing the IT industry while also showing support for Plan Ceibal, which has thus far brought 400,000 PCs to students in public schools. Still, Cuti has not endorsed a specific candidate, González said.PROPOSALSBoth LaCalle and Mujica have included technology as part of their presidential platforms.LaCalle has put forth plans to step up technology use in farming and agricultural research, as well as other industries such as healthcare.

He has called for greater ties between academic scholars, the public sector and business executives in order to develop new technologies.LaCalle has also called for the extension of tax breaks on software developers, as well as speeding up average broadband speeds and bringing internet to SMEs.Mujica has proposed tax cuts for firms that adopt new technologies, as well as the creation of a national innovation system (SNI) geared towards boosting innovation. He has called for the streamlining of IT exports, the consolidation of Uruguay's reputation as a tech exporter and the creation of a technology advisory board for government IT purchases.Mujica has also urged the creation of IT hubs, and has promised to take steps towards increasing ties between the public, academic and private sectors in order to develop new technologies.Uruguayan software and service exports reached US$219mn in 2008, representing a 17% increase over the US$188mn exported in 2007, according to Cuti statistics