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On September 1-2, U.S. Chargé D'Affaires (CDA) Robin Matthewman and Public Affairs officer Robert Zimmerman visited the administrative division (department) of Paysandu in Uruguay's northwestern frontier region. The delegation met with Intendente Julio Miguel Pintos and other local government officials to discuss matters of common interest as well as the progress of rural development projects managed by the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) that are taking place in the region.

The capital city of Paysandu, also named Paysandu, is Uruguay’s third largest urban area, with a population of about 97,000. Once a key center for light industry such as tanneries, textile factories, breweries, vegetal oils, sugar, meat, cement, and agriculture activity, the city and the region have been hit hard by economic slow-down. The forest industry is becoming a major ingredient in Paysandu's economic expansion; capacitating a new workforce for this type of activity is an important priority.

CDA Matthewman also met with members of the local Dairy Farmers Association to discuss their experiences with IAF projects in the region and later visited Colonias Las Delicias, a small community north of the city of Paysandu where the IAF is developing projects such as a community library, a rejuvenated dairy farmers association with 35 members, and an initiative for young people to work with their peers in drug-awareness programs and to raise funds for local schools and clinics. IAF representative Jeremy Coon, who accompanied CDA Matthewman during the visit, is coordinating the organization's projects in the region.

On September 2, CDA Matthewman met with members of the local Jewish community to discuss a number of projects, including an Alzheimers prevention program.

Following is a photo gallery of CDA Matthewman's visit to Paysandu:

(37 photos)
CDA Matthewman meets with Paysandu Intendente Julio Miguel Pintos. Also in the meeting, seated right to left, Inter-American Foundation representative Jeremy Coon, U.S. Public Affairs officer Robert Zimmerman and Municipal Advisor Roberto Ceriani.		CDA Robin Matthewman joins Paysandu Intendente Julio Miguel Pintos in a press conference.		CDA Matthewman and Intendente Pintos exchange gifts.

CDA Matthewman with Intendente Pintos and Youth Ambassador Nicolas Requel.		CDA Matthewman travels to Colonias Las Delicias, a small community north of the city of Paysandu.		CDA Matthewman meets with the people of Colonias Las Delicias, a small community situated 50 miles north of the city of Paysandu.

Photo op with the people of Colonias Las Delicias, a small community situated 50 miles north of the city of Paysandu.		CDA Matthewman visits a small rural public school at Colonias Las Delicias.		CDA Matthewman meets with members of Paysandu's Jewish community.