Germany (Prussia) and Uruguay have enjoyed uninterrupted bilateral relations for more than 160 years. The country is home to over 10,000 Germans. Montevideo boasts a large German school, a Protestant church community, a Goethe-Institut, an active German-Uruguayan Chamber of Industry and Commerce and various clubs. The German influence on the Uruguayan way of life is nonetheless relatively minor. Political relations are good, characterised by shared values particularly with regard to human rights and rules‑based trade. We can regularly count on Uruguay’s support within the United Nations system.

Germany is Uruguay’s most important European trading partner in terms of exports, ranking sixth overall among Uruguay’s trading partners. The main German imports from Uruguay are cellulose, beef, wool and textiles. Germany’s principal exports to Uruguay include pharmaceuticals, vehicles, car parts and chemicals. Germany is playing a key role in converting Uruguay’s energy matrix to renewable energy sources. As a result of generous tax regulations in duty‑free zones and for service providers active in the region, several German enterprises have invested in Uruguay. An investment promotion agreement has been in place since 1990.

In development cooperation, projects in the fields of agriculture and sustainable management play a prominent role. Particularly successful examples include the long‑standing cooperation in the area of forestry, on energy efficiency measures and in the sphere of dual vocational training. Uruguay is becoming an increasingly attractive partner for triangular cooperation and regional projects.

The Goethe-Institut reports a constant rise in demand for German courses. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung both have offices in Montevideo. The representative of the German Academic Exchange Service promotes academic exchange. The German School in Montevideo was founded in 1857 and has borne the “Excellent German School Abroad” quality seal since 2019.