The Executive announced the regulatory decree of law No. 19566, of December 2017, which modernizes the regime of free trade zones, as announced by the secretary of economy and finance, Pablo Ferreri. The initiative will enable the creation of more poles of activities inside and adheres to international standards. "It seeks to promote activities that generate thousands of jobs," he said.

"These changes pretend to modernize the regime, enhance and promote the establishment of substantive activities in Uruguay and adhere to international standards of fiscal transparency," said Ferreri, at a press conference after the Council of Ministers on Monday 24 in the Executive Tower.

The hierarch stressed that "free zones contracts that were granted without time limits now have a specific one, which may be extended depending on the fulfillment of the business plans submitted at the time".
He said that the law allows new types of themed areas outside the metropolitan area. He exemplified by mentioning that it can generate audiovisual entertainment or poles.
He added that, from that amendment, "each new user who wants to operate must submit a business plan in the Free Zones to establish which kind of activity generated and added value will give something to the country. (Should) show that it has developed a real activity. "
Another point implies the possibility of ancillary activities in Montevideo, from zones located outside the metropolitan area. He reviewed that the companies must inform the General Tax Directorate (DGI) to perform these tasks and include more workers in the area where they are installed that in the nation's capital. "Is intended to enhance and preserve sources of work in the interior," he said.
He said that "triangulation services that have no substance in the free zone is also prohibited. Therefore, the intellectual property which may be invoiced from the free zone to the world, will have to be developed within this. They can no longer receive services performed abroad and simply refacturarlos without generating value added in the country”, specific.

SOURCE: Presidency of the Republic of Uruguay https://www.presidencia.gub.uy/comunicacion/comunicacionnoticias/ferreri-zonas-francas-decreto-reglamentario