The Governments of Brazil and Uruguay agreed this Tuesday (07.03.2023) to carry out the physical integration for the development of the border region between both countries through several infrastructure projects such as the binationalization of Rivera airport.
The agreement was sealed during the visit to Brazil of the Uruguayan ministers of Foreign Affairs, Francisco Bustillo; Economy and Finance, Azucena Arbeleche; and Transport and Public Works, José Luis Falero.
The Brazilian side was represented at the meeting by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and the Ministers of Finance, Fernando Haddad, Transport, Renan Filho, and Ports and Airports, Márcio França.
According to a joint statement, during the meeting it was agreed to convert the Rivera airport (northern Uruguay), in a binational airport, and tender "as a public work" the dredging of the Uruguay-Brazil waterway between the Merín lagoon, in Uruguay, and the Patos lagoon, in Brazil.
The tender will also be opened to build the bridge over the Yaguarón River, and preparations will be resumed forto rehabilitate the road crossing andbetween the cities of Yaguarón, in Brazil, and Río Branco, in Uruguay: the historic Baron of Mauá bridge, work to be carried out once the new bridge is operational.
The joint statement stated that both nations would move forward on issues related to infrastructure work and border cooperation.
"The issues discussed are of great importance and relevance for bilateral relations" and are also the result of the visit that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva made to Uruguay in his third week of government, Vieira said after the meeting in a presentation with his Uruguayan counterpart.
According to him, Lula's visit to Montevideo at the end of January to meet with his Uruguayan counterpart, Luis Lacalle Pou, made clear "the importance that Brazil gives to bilateral relations during this new administration."
For his part, Foreign Minister Bustillo highlighted the value of the works agreed upon for the life of the population living in the border region and welcomed the good state of bilateral relations.
He explained that they are fulfilling "the historic mandate" and specifically that of the two presidents, "who entrusted us with advancing on specific issues of historic integration, and especially physical integration."
In this way, the Uruguayan foreign minister stressed that real integration is physical integration, because there is no turning back.
To advance these projects, A binational working group will be created, the declaration states. The document also establishes that the process of modernization of Mercosur will be undertaken, in order to have an open and integrated bloc.
"We talked about all the issues of Mercosur, tariffs, exceptions, restrictions, that can advance or regress. What can never go backwards is a physical project like the one we agreed between Uruguay and Brazil at this time," Bustillo explained.
Brazil is historically one of Uruguay's main partners. Official data indicate that in 2022, bilateral trade totaled USD 4.700 billion, 22% higher than in 2021.
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