With political and business support, authorities along the Uruguayan coast are promoting the reactivation of the BROU Recompensa , a program that, in its previous implementation, substantially improved commercial activity in Paysandú, Salto, and Artigas. The objective is clear: to sustain the local economy in the face of the growing consumer outflow to Argentina.
From the Paysandú Departmental Council, Councilor Alejandro Colacce led a delegation that held meetings with shopping centers in Paysandú and Salto, with a view to coordinating a common proposal. The proposal has the unanimous support of the three parties represented on the Council and is part of the need to address the loss of competitiveness of border businesses.
The tool, which has been in operation for over a year and a half, offered direct discounts to those who used the BROU card at local businesses. According to data provided by the merchants themselves, sales grew by up to 80% in butcher shops, grocery stores, and hardware stores—in other words, in the neighborhood businesses most affected by the exchange rate difference.
Emiliano Márquez, a council member from the National Party, noted that the measure had the greatest impact among female heads of household, who organized their shopping days around the discounts. "It was a concrete way to save money and strengthen small businesses," he noted.
The proposal includes a series of meetings with the Banco República, the Ministry of Economy and Finance , and the National Development Agency (ANDE). Shopping centers emphasized that the program does not require new investment, but rather the relaunch of a proven scheme that, according to BROU's own figures, represented just 1% of its annual revenue.
One of the key points is that the BROU Recompensa could be applied automatically, as is the case with the IMESI at the border, adjusting based on the price gap with Argentina . According to the council members, this would allow the tool to be used only when necessary, without depending on temporary political negotiations.
In addition to the shopping centers and the Departmental Councils, the mayor of Rivera and president of the Congress of Mayors, Nicolás Olivera, also expressed his support for the initiative. The Catholic University has been monitoring the program's impact through a study that validates its positive effects on the local economy.
"Border residents won't stop crossing the border, but they can be offered a reasonable alternative for consuming on this side," stated Colacce. The Salto shopping center, meanwhile, emphasized that this is a structural measure, not an exception. "This isn't a bailout; it's territorial justice," summarized one of the spokespersons.
pressure is mounting as the national budget is being discussed in Parliament. The expectation is that coastal legislators will succeed in including the reactivation of the card as a compensation mechanism for departments outside the Montevideo-Canelones axis.
Support for the program was also declared of departmental interest in Salto. The proposal will be discussed in committee, as a priority, to formalize its submission to the Executive Branch. "This isn't about inventing anything, but rather about reviving something that worked and that people remember," the council members insisted.
The proposal also includes analyzing new ways to include those without BROU cards, so that the impact is even broader. "We can't continue to normalize the fact that small businesses are founded while cars are mercifully crossing into Concordia," they said.
The price gap, which widened again in July, is primarily driven by fuel, but also extends to other sectors such as food and services. For coastal stakeholders, the reactivation of the BROU Recompensa program is a concrete way to balance this balance.
Key points:
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The BROU Recompensa card generated increases of up to 80% in local sales.
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The scheme has already been in operation for more than a year and a half with positive impact.
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The goal is to activate it automatically based on the price difference with Argentina.
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The fiscal cost would represent only 1% of the BROU's annual revenue.
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The proposal has support from all parties and the Congress of Mayors.
FAQ:
What is the BROU Recompensa card?
It's a discount program for Banco República users, created to encourage spending at local businesses along the coast.
Why is it being revived?
Because it has already shown positive results, helped small businesses, and sustained jobs in areas affected by the exchange rate gap with Argentina.
What political support does he have?
Unanimous support from council members of all parties in Paysandú and Salto, and from the Mayors' Congress.
What were the specific benefits?
Discounts of up to 30% at supermarkets, pharmacies, opticians, and fuel, depending on the day and category.
