The Central Bank of Uruguay opened its 2026 Annual Economics Conference alongside a Winter School for undergraduate and graduate students. At the opening, President Guillermo Tolosa discussed economic policy stability and predictability as strategic assets for Uruguay amid global uncertainty. Initial sessions examined the effects of urban development on productivity, inequality and growth, as well as the role of critical minerals in the energy transition, technology and global value chains. The program continues with Tolosa’s July 29 address on evidence-based financial decisions and a July 30 discussion with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Uruguay’s position in the global economy.