President Vázquez achieved recognition for Uruguay’s top position in the 2015 Social Inclusion index

The Americas Society/Council of the Americas this Monday 28 granted recognition to Tabaré Vázquez for Uruguay’s top position in the 2015 Social Inclusion index, according to the study published by “Americas Quarterly”. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rodolfo Nin Novoa, and the Minister of Economy, Danilo Astori, attended the award ceremony.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay states the following:

“Recognition by Americas Society/Council of the Americas to the President of the Republic, Mr. Tabaré Vázquez for Uruguay’s first place in the 2015 Social Inclusion index.

Today at the headquarters of the “Americas Society/Council of the Americas” (AS/COA), recognition was granted to Mr. Tabaré Vázquez, President of Uruguay, as our country ranked first in the 2015 edition of the Social Inclusion Index, according to  a study recently published in  “Americas Quarterly”.

The ceremony brought together the high officials of the Uruguayan government, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rodolfo Nin Novoa, and the Minister of Economy and Finance,  Danilo Astori, as well as private sector representatives, among which some of the major and strongest companies and international institutions stand out, such as Bloomberg, Crédit Agricole, ExxonMobil, Grupo Santander, HSBC Securities, IBM Japan Bank for International Cooperation, JPMorgan, Moody’s Corporation, PepsiCo Inc., Walmart, CITI, Microsoft and The Coca Cola Company.

Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that Americas Quarterly Social Inclusion Index, created in 2012, analyzes the performance of 17 countries in the hemisphere on 22 variables that help determine the capacity of individuals to enjoy a safe and productive life, regardless of race, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or physical or mental disability. It is the second consecutive year that our country is positioned at the head of the mentioned index due to its progress in areas such as LGBT rights, access to formal employment, the proportion of GDP invested in social projects and the population’s financial inclusion.

On this occasion, the President and CEO of AS/COA, Susan Segal, said that Uruguay should be taken as a model by other countries in the region and worldwide who travel the path of development in an effort not to leave behind those who are less advantaged. She also recognized the figure of President Tabaré Vázquez and his work to strengthen a society not only prosperous, but also equitable.

Moreover, in his speech, the President of the Republic pointed out to the numerous and qualified audience the relevance given by the country to social policies in order to ensure that every Uruguayan citizen can enjoy their full rights. He also highlighted the stability of the political system and the progress made by the country in social and economic areas in the past decade, making it an attractive destination for foreign companies.

Montevideo, 28 September 2015.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Press Department.