"In terms of infrastructure as a whole, Uruguay has the need to advance greatly in that area; have priorities and targets to meet in transport, energy, logistics services in general, because we must invest in port and communications" said the next president of the General Assembly.

We call this a "capacity development" which "can be physical and include significant investments in the Interior Ministry, the prison system must be developed due to its very negative view of their present situation. Secondly, human capacity development, with all that means, in terms of social policies but also in education, knowledge and culture. (...) This is absolutely essential. "

Regarding the VAT, he claimed that his commitment is to reduce the base rate two points, to be offset by "revenue from increased activity. Meaning, that is not going to offset by putting other taxes in its place".

Referring to Income Tax, he said that "it gets better, basically by improving the system of deductions, which began very cautious to see what happened in the country with a true innovation tax. We are now in a position to know that the system works very well in Uruguay. (...) We do not rule out any improvements."

Moreover, Astori called for having "the best possible relationship" with the United States in trade matters, because the country "has implications and projections in the economic and investment area".

(www.espectador.com, 25 February 2010)