Uruguay "sets a trend" with the Punta Tech Meetup, one of the main technology events in the region, which took place in Punta del Este and was attended by more than 1,200 people, including international investors and IT experts.
This is what the executive director of the investment and export promotion agency Uruguay XXI, Antonio Carámbula, told Efe, adding that "it is no coincidence" that such events are held in Uruguay because it is a country that has positioned itself "as a business hub" making "much focus" on technology.
The event, which celebrated its 11th edition and has the support of Uruguay XXI, has already been installed "in the regional calendar" and therefore is "one of the important showcases" that Uruguay has to present business opportunities in the country.
"(Uruguay) is recognized for being the main software exporter per capita in the region and at the same time has made very important investments that have allowed it to position itself in this sense," explained Carámbula.
The executive director stressed that in addition to the topics that are of interest to all, it also has an important space where entrepreneurs and investors can make contacts in search of potential deals.
"Uruguay has positioned itself thanks to its talent, the investments it has made and its location as an important software producer and exporter. It is internationally recognized for that quality," he said.
Although he did not assure that with this event new investments could come to the country, Carámbula said he hopes that participants can take advantage of Uruguay, continue discovering business opportunities and return later either to continue doing business, tourism, or invest.
Meanwhile, Pablo Brenner, creator of the Punta Tech Meetup, told Efe that from the organization can not believe "how it has grown" the event in such a short time since it went from being an event for 60 people to this great day with 1,200.
"It is one of the few spaces in the region where you can find entrepreneurs, investors and businessmen from large companies at the same time," Brenner explained.
Regarding the speakers, whose main focus this year was "exponential technologies", Brenner said that this year they sought to "broaden the spectrum" and, in addition to referring to information technologies, also include exhibitors who are experts in biotechnology.
Meanwhile, the director of Digital Channels and Business Banking Services for Citi Latin America, the Moroccan Driss Temsamani, one of the speakers at Punta Tech, told Efe that this is his first time in Punta del Este and that the goal with his participation will be to help the bank to "expand its digital agenda throughout the region".
"Citi Uruguay was always focused on regional clients based in Uruguay and now that is expanding because beyond working with our clients who manage their treasuries from Uruguay, today we are seeing technology companies that are interested in banking, in finance, that are established here but want to expand to Latin America," Temsamani said.
In addition to helping execute their digital strategy, Temsamani explained that at this Punta Tech they are looking to help "the industry in general go digital" as handling cash and paper is very costly for banks.
"The agenda that Punta Tech has is very important because the issues that are going to be dealt with are the ones that are being dealt with in Asia, Europe, the United States and clearly Uruguay is leading with this issue for Latin America," he concluded.
Also speaking at the event were MIT Media Lab assistant professor Kevin Esvelt and Israel Institute of Technology electrical engineer Evelyn Landman.
The presentations were followed by a panel discussion on cryptocurrencies and their influence today.
Source: Montevideo Portal
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