A recently released documentary titled “Paraguay: Latin America’s Hidden Gem” puts Paraguay’s economic, cultural and energy potential under the international spotlight. Available on YouTube, this Finnish production, supported by the Investment and Export Network (Rediex), captures the essence of Paraguay, which is emerging as a key destination for business and sustainability.
The documentary, which includes testimonies from President Santiago Peña, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC), Javier Giménez, and several national businessmen, highlights the advantages that “hidden gem” Paraguay offers to investors and entrepreneurs. Among them, its young population, favorable tax regimes, clean and renewable energy, and a macroeconomic stability that positions it as an exception in the region.
First Episode: “A country ready for business”
The first episode delves into the pillars that support the Paraguayan economy. According to the documentary, Paraguay is ranked as the sixth largest producer of soybeans worldwide, thanks to the fertility of its lands and a climate that favors crops throughout the year.
“The reforestation market here is something I think is very exciting. Paraguay is a place with a tremendous amount of fresh water, great soil, great sunlight. Three of the four seasons are basically summer, with a mild winter, which allows for many weeks of growth,” said Kiantar Betancourt, president of the company Atenil.
“Paraguay has the opportunity to become a completely carbon-neutral nation. A very high percentage of the electricity produced here is renewable.”
In addition, in the area of forestry, it is noteworthy that the country promotes reforestation initiatives and silvopastoral practices that generate employment and contribute to the care of the environment. “Practically the entire year is suitable for agriculture, and since the country also helps a lot, we have many tools to move forward in agriculture,” said Russel Toews, an agricultural producer, mentioning in turn “we do not have very strong frosts, and for that reason, soybeans, corn and wheat, we can plant them in three direct crops in one cycle.”
With a 100% renewable energy matrix and exporting 80% of its electricity, Paraguay is leading the way towards a sustainable future. “Paraguay has the opportunity to become a totally carbon neutral nation. A very high percentage of the electricity produced here is renewable,” explained Kiantar Betancourt, president of Atenil.
For his part, Javier Giménez, Minister of Industry and Commerce, commented: “Itaipu ended up being the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, and is currently the third largest in the world, generating enormous amounts of green energy that now positions Paraguay as a global player in this green energy business, which is in such high demand around the world.”
“There is a huge opportunity in the clean and renewable energy that we have. And I know that the current government is promoting many projects that focus on that. What we need to do is tell the world that the next generation of green and sustainable energy is in Paraguay,” shared Jazmín Gustale Gill, founder and managing partner of Ithink VC.
Giménez also expressed “the fact that we are exporting 80% of our energy to our neighbouring countries at low rates, because that is how things have been before. We need to change that. We absolutely need to plant a flag in Paraguay and say, look, we have the greenest and most abundant energy in the world.”
The documentary emphasised the low tax costs and a qualified workforce that consolidate Paraguay as an attractive manufacturing production center in the region. “The focus of the sale of the products is the local market, but we are also exporting mainly to Brazil and Bolivia, which are neighboring countries. We have also exported to other countries such as Ecuador and Venezuela, and even to Africa,” said Franz Friesen, administrative manager of Hilagro.
“What we need to do is tell the world that the next generation of green and sustainable energy is in Paraguay.”
The production highlights the country’s political and economic stability, as well as its ability to recover after historical adversities such as the War of the Triple Alliance. President Santiago Peña said: “Paraguay is a country that has maintained macro stability for decades, using the same currency for 80 years. For a European this might not seem like a big problem, but in Latin America, a region marked by episodes of high inflation, this achievement stands out as a fundamental pillar of economic stability. It has maintained very low inflation, supported by an independent central bank.”
This Hidden Gem Might Not Remain Hidden…
With a fresh and optimistic approach, “Paraguay: Latin America’s Hidden Gem” invites the world to discover a country that combines history, sustainability and economic opportunities. Through the testimonies in the documentary, it is highlighted that Paraguay is on its way to becoming a benchmark for development in the region.
