Uruguay: The Brazilian brewer Ambev inaugurates on March 2 in the presence of Brazilian president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva a factory renovated to process the barley of Paysandu (North-Western region of Uruguay) after an investment of 5 million dollar, according to the company sources and of the embassy of Brazil in Uruguay. The plant, which has been expanded and modernized, will be able to process up to 130,000 tonnes of barley per annum. The final product is to be shipped to Brazil, the administrative and financial director, Daniela Lejtreger, indicated.

Ambev, which merged with Belgian Interbrew to form Inbev, controls the entire production of beer in Uruguay.

Lula’s main purpose of visiting Uruguay is to attend the inauguration ceremony for Uruguay’s president-elect Tabaré Vazquez on March 1.