Following the meeting with President Tabare Vazquez (see related article,) U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez and Uruguay Industry Minister Jorge Lepra signed on October 8, 2007 a Letter of Intent (LOI) committing the Department of Commerce's cooperation with the Government of Uruguay on the issues of innovation and competitiveness. The LOI continues the work began at the inaugural Americas Competitiveness Forum hosted in Atlanta in June and Uruguay's follow-up Symposium on Innovation.

Uruguay President Tabare Vazquez and U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez congratulate each other following the signing of a Letter of Intent on Innovation and Competitivenes in Montevideo, October 8, 2007 as Industry Minister Jorge Lepra and U.S. Ambassador Frank E. Baxter look on. "The United States is committed to growing our bilateral relationship with Uruguay and our common agenda to advance freedom, economic opportunity, and social justice throughout the hemisphere," said Gutierrez.

 
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