Less than two months before the July holidays, the Triple Border region faces a logistical impasse that worries the productive sector. The Puente de la Integración, the second link between Paraguay and Brazil, still operates partially, and negotiations for its full opening run up against demands from the Brazilian side. Meanwhile, Ciudad del Este prepares to receive an avalanche of tourists and shoppers, with hotels full and flights saturated.
Charif Hammoud, president of the Center of Importers and Merchants of Alto Paraná (Cicap), stated that the city cannot handle the traffic with only one bridge. “The promise is to enable the second bridge before the July holidays. The city won't hold up with just one bridge,” he declared. According to him, the region is experiencing a moment of strong international positioning, driven by conventions, business congresses, and the interest of major global brands in entering the Paraguayan market.
The businessman highlighted that Ciudad del Este has unique conditions to consolidate itself as one of the main commercial and tourist hubs on the continent. “The best products in the world, Ciudad del Este will offer at the best international price,” he said, emphasizing the know-how accumulated by border merchants. Hammoud projects that, with the full and modern opening of border crossings, the city could generate up to 50,000 new jobs in the coming years. “There will be a labor shortage,” he warned.
The business vision goes further: a regional economy operating 24 hours a day is being considered, with malls open permanently and double shifts in commerce. “Why not a mall open 24 hours?” Hammoud questioned.
However, the enthusiasm contrasts with diplomatic rigidity. At the last meeting of the bilateral joint commission, held in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraguay again requested the release of private vehicle traffic on the new bridge, but Brazilian authorities refused. Brazil insists that the new bridge cannot operate under the same flexible model as the Friendship Bridge, demanding strict migration controls with individual registration of entries and exits. Furthermore, it argues that the corridor should prioritize heavy trucks and international buses to relieve the saturation of the Friendship Bridge.
The bottleneck is not limited to immigration. Complementary works in Presidente Franco and Foz do Iguaçu are still unfinished, with no avenues or corridors prepared to support a constant flow of international trucks. Meanwhile, the private sector awaits a decision that could define the region's economic pace for years to come.