If you are currently doing business with South America, you will know that the Copa America is taking place in Chile. During the recent Uruguay v Paraguay match, I tweeted a few facts about these often mixed-up countries, and one reader suggested putting these snippets of information together, so here we go…
Some background…
Want to pronounce “Uruguay” & “Paraguay” right in Spanish? Accent (unwritten) is on last syllable. UruGUAY ParaGUAY
Uruguay borders Argentina & Brazil. Paraguay also borders them, plus Bolivia. URU/PAR don’t border each other.
Both Uruguay & Paraguay have strong European communities/immigration. Paraguay’s indigenous population also big, not Uruguay’s
Paraguay has recently enjoyed annual GDP growth of around 13%. Mind you, from a low base.
Uruguay has enjoyed 12 years of continued GDP growth.
Some differences…
3 to 13 degrees in Montevideo (URU) today, 10 to 22 in Asunción (PAR).
Paraguay and Uruguay are v different. Corruption and informality much stronger in Paraguay.
Uruguay has won the (football/soccer) world cup twice (more than England). Paraguay none.
Some similarities…
Travelling on business to Uruguay or Paraguay? Forget trains. Cars, coaches, odd flight, some fluvial, too.
Uruguay and Paraguay both have a state monopoly in electricity. UTE in Uruguay, ANDE in Paraguay.
And some humour…
And in case you’re wondering, it was a 1-1 draw…
