The president transferred the command to the vice president, Beatriz Argimón, who assumed it until October 31, when Lacalle Pou returns to Uruguay, after an official mission in Japan. The Minister of Livestock, Fernando Mattos, stressed that the objective of the visit is to increase trade and investment between the two countries, especially, to specify the export of bovine tongue to the Asian country.
This October 25, the transfer of command took place, after the approval of the Chamber of Senators, on October 17, of the request of the President of the Republic, in compliance with the provisions of Article No. 170 of the Constitution. The vice-president, Beatriz Argimón, took office after signing the corresponding minutes, together with Lacalle Pou and the deputy secretary of the Presidency, Rodrigo Ferrés.
The president left the air base for Japan, on the occasion of the official visit he will make to the city of Tokyo, from this Tuesday, October 25, to October 31. He was invited by the Prime Minister of that nation, Fumio Kishida, to hold meetings in an attempt to increase trade and investment between the two countries.
The delegation that accompanies him is made up of the foreign minister, Francisco Bustillo; the Minister of Economy, Azucena Arbeleche; the Minister of Livestock, Fernando Mattos, and the executive director of Uruguay XXI, Sebastián Risso.
Mattos stressed that this mission could not be completed in 2021, when the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations was commemorated. He added that it is a very important trip, since Japan is the world’s third largest economy, and that the fundamental objective is to expand investments.
He recalled that that nation is part of the Trans-Pacific Association Agreement, for which President Lacalle Pou expressed his intention to present Uruguay’s letter of accession. For this reason, this official visit is a relevant step to increase markets.
In relation to the sale of meat, he indicated that Uruguay is in an advanced process of approving the bovine language, a highly appreciated product in Japan. Our country exports this product to Russia, but due to the current political difficulties, it is good to find an alternative destination for this product, he considered.
The Secretary of State affirmed that, if this transaction materializes, it would mean a sign of confidence in the Uruguayan health system, since it would be the first country free of foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination enabled in the Japanese market.
He added that this would be a prominent product in the Uruguayan export guideline, which can make it grow around 15 million dollars over the general norm of all countries.
Presidency