Paraguay is preparing to enter the global semiconductor value chain by hosting the second Taiwan-Paraguay Technology Forum. The event will be held from September 19 to 21 at the Nobile Hotel Convention in Ciudad del Este. The event will bring together twelve Taiwanese specialists from academia and industry, including delegates from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest chip producer.
The announcement followed a meeting attended by Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, the Taiwanese and Ambassador José Chih-Cheng Han. Also present were the Minister of Information and Communication Technologies Gustavo Villate, Alto Paraná Governor César Torres, and the Rector of the Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University (UPTP), Jorge Duarte.
Ambassador Han emphasised Taiwan’s leading role in the sector, pointing out that the island manufactures 65 percent of global semiconductors and 90 percent of advanced models. He noted that although the industry requires high levels of expertise and technology, Taiwan is committed to supporting Paraguay’s entry into this field.
Forging links with Taiwan for development
The Taiwan-Paraguay Technology Forum is intended to foster collaboration between Paraguayan academics and industrial representatives and their Taiwanese counterparts, laying the groundwork for initial investment. According to Rector Duarte, the initiative seeks to integrate local and cross-border industries with the fast-moving world of high technology.
Minister Villate underlined Paraguay’s determination to strengthen its role in the regional semiconductor supply chain. The Minister added that negotiations are underway with the global organisation SEMI, whose president is expected to attend the forum.
Governor Torres welcomed the choice of Alto Paraná as the host department. He also noted that it already accommodates more than half of Paraguay’s maquiladora industries. The Governor said the Taiwan-Paraguay Technology Forum would not only support private enterprise but also benefit universities in the region. The forum would allow the university to broaden their understanding of technological innovation.
He added that the forum aligns with the Government’s wider strategy to encourage technological growth. The first Taiwan-Paraguay Technology Forum was held in August 2024 in Asunción. This second edition is regarded as a step towards positioning innovation and technology as key drivers of Paraguay’s economic and social development.
