Paraguay has been chosen as the new home for the Regional Training Programme of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). High technical level courses will be delivered at the Institute of the Central Bank of Paraguay. This development positions Paraguay as a regional beacon in economic and financial training. In the last couple of months, Paraguay benefited from market confidence and access to international finance. These funds were provided by the IMF and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB).
Launch event for the Regional Training Programme
The launch event was held at the Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP) , with the attendance of several Paraguayan authorities who provided their presence. Among them was Nigel Clarke, Deputy Managing Director of the IMF.
Additionally, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Carlos Fernandez Valdovinos, expressed his satisfaction with the achievement. He recalled the beginnings of the project in 2014, during his tenure as President of the Central Bank.
Paraguay proved its capability
He noted that considerable efforts were made to develop the necessary infrastructure and logistics to meet the IMF’s rigorous standards for the Regional Training Programme. Clarke emphasised that the BCP has since demonstrated its ability to host top-tier events.
“Today, this place is not only up to the expected level, but has already proven capable of hosting high quality events and courses, such as the one we recently held in conjunction with the Central Bank, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Becker Friedman Centre of the University of Chicago and the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, with top-level experts discussing here in Asunción” he stated.
Regional Training Programme’s meaning for Paraguay
According to the Central Bank, this will help to strengthen the country’s technical institutions. It will also encourage investment in capacity building, and create new opportunities for international cooperation. And it will enhance relationships among regional economic authorities, fostering greater exchange within peers, and more effective solutions to shared problems.
The Regional Training Programme aims to offer up to eight courses per year. 25 to 35 students will be selected after they are nominated by the governmental institutions. The courses will be delivered by IMF experts and other international agencies.
BCP’s evolving role as a regional knowledge platform
Carlos Carvallo; the president of the BCP, expressed his appreciation for the IMF’s support and highlighted that the institute of the matrix bank is entering a new stage as a platform for regional knowledge. He recalled that since it was created, the institution has progressively expanded its scope to train not only bank officials, but also professionals from other public institutions and academia.
