The Paraguay Investment Forum

Nestled in the heart of South America between the giant markets of Argentina and Brazil, Paraguay is on the radar for global investment. Already an agricultural colossus and powerhouse of hydroelectricity, the country also yields strong opportunities in industry and manufacturing, financial and professional services, ICT and transport infrastructure, among others.

Join us at Canning House to meet Gustavo Leite (see below), Paraguay’s Trade Minister as well as other leading business figures at Paraguay Investment Forum 2016.

More details on the content of the event can be found below and more speakers will be confirmed over the next days.

If you would like to attend please send expressions of interest to [email protected].

The Paraguay Investment Forum 2016

Registration – 8.30am to 9.00am

09.00

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09.30am

Introduction

• Welcome: Baroness Hooper, Honourary Vice President, Canning House
• Introductory remarks: HMA Dr Jeremy Hobbs, British Ambassador to Paraguay
• Keynote Presentation by Gustavo Leite, Minister of Trade and Investment, Government of Paraguay

9.30am to 10.15am

Panel 1

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What are the opportunities for investment in the manufacturing sector?  

Paraguay is undergoing rapid development in its commercial and industrial sectors. The Cartes administration has put into place many economic incentives to encourage foreign direct investment such as the Maquila regime, Free Trade Zones and the 10% tax system; 10% corporation tax, 10% personal tax and 10% VAT. There is great opportunity for investment in the manufacturing sector, especially in 7 key areas; food and agribusiness related products, textiles, food

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ware, plastic and toys.

Panel:

• Colin Day, CEO, Essentra, UK industrial group, manufacturing in Paraguay
• Conor McEnroy

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  President, Abbeyfield Group and Chairman of Sudameris Bank Paraguay
• Gonzalo De Castro, Senior Executive, CAF Development Bank of Latin America
• Chair

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  Laurence Blair, Research Analyst for Latin America, Economist Intelligence Unit

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10.15am to 10.30am

Break for tea and coffee

10.30am to 11.15am

Panel 2

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Diversifying and innovating in the agri

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business and food production sector – where are the opportunities for investment?  Agriculture is one of the most important industries in Paraguay. Due to recent government investments into the sector and irrigation infrastructure projects, 25% of GDP now comes from agri

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business and food. Soy, beef and stevia are the three most notable components of the industry as Paraguay has become the second largest producer of stevia worldwide, the seventh largest beef exporter and the fourth largest exporter of soy. Paraguay also has a huge potential in the exportation of chia, corn and cotton. There is a great potential for investment into the agricultural industry.

Panel:

• Introductory presentation: Horacio Sanchez Caballero, Director, Group of Producing Countries in the Southern Cone (GPS)
• Conor McEnroy

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  President, Abbeyfield Group and Chairman of Sudameris Bank Paraguay
• Juan Carlos Pettengill, Vice President, CPC (Camara Paraguaya de la Carne / Meat Council of Paraguay)
• Nick Sherwood, Commercial Director, UK and Europe, JBS (leading meat processing company in world by sales)
• Chair

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  Laurence Blair, Research Analyst for Latin America, Economist Intelligence Unit

11.15am to 12.00pm

Panel 3

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Opportunities in infrastructure, logistics and waterways – what needs to be done? – Paraguay has huge potential for investment in its logistics sector. For Paraguay to continue developing there needs to be more investments in key infrastructure projects such as river dredging schemes, the construction of a major airport and of major highways. A key aim of the Cartes government is to develop its waterways, through foreign direct and private investment. Paraguay has over 3,100 kilometres of waterways, with the Paraná

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Paraguay river system being one of the most important in the world as it links Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina and provides a route to the Atlantic Ocean. The waterways carry around 80% of Paraguay’s imports and exports and with investment in dredging and channel

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widening schemes, this would result in full

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time navigation of the Paraná

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Paraguay river system. The Itaipu hydroelectric plant is one of the world’s most efficient renewable hydroelectric plants, with a capacity of 14,000 MW, it supplies more than 75% of Paraguay’s electricity and 17% of Brazil’s electricity. The development of renewable energy in Paraguay also has huge potential for investment.

Panel:

• Fernando Leri, President, Puerto Caacupe

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  mi
• Juan Carlos Munoz, Presidente Cámara de Armadores Fluviales y Marítimos (Federation of Ship Operators)
• Gonzalo De Castro, Senior Executive, CAF Development Bank of Latin America
• Chair

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  Laurence Blair, Research Analyst for Latin America, Economist Intelligence Unit

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The keynote speech will be delivered by Gustavo Leite, Minister of Industry and Commerce. 

Mr. Gustavo Leite holds a Bachelor in Business Administration (Major in Finance, Minor in Economics) by the University of California at Irvine & Chapman, and holds a Master Degree in International Marketing, by Scottish Marketing School – Strathclyde University.

In the public sector, he was Minister of Development Planning. In thtat position, he was co

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author of the Governmental Plan of Economics and Social Development 1998

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2003, and was the Coordinator of the Economic Council of Ministers and Integrated System of Public Investment. Before that position, he was General Director of PROPARAGUAY, which was an agency to promote Paraguayan exports, and First Secretary (Head of Commercial Section) of the Embassy of Paraguay to the European Community.

In the private sector, he was General Manager of Paraguay Partners, a company that developed real states projects, and economic consultant of many companies. In 2013, Mr. Gustavo Leite was appointed Minister of Industry and Commerce.