Ministerio de Industria y Comercio

Paraguay Business Week will bring together investment, trade, maquila and support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises from November 11 to 13 at the TASK Center in Hernandarias, with more than 10,000 participants expected and US$1 billion in projected business, strengthening business ties between Paraguay and Brazil.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce launched MIC MAP, a platform that integrates territorial, productive, logistics, energy, social and trade data from across Paraguay to guide public policy, investment and productive planning.

Paraguay’s manufacturing industry has grown and is seeking long-term credit, stable energy, training and technology to expand investment, jobs and exports.

Paraguay will promote food and wine companies on October 19, 2026, at Castello di Solfagnano in Italy’s Umbria region, in a planned program of meetings, tastings and visits aimed at connecting producers with potential European buyers, investors and partners.

Mercosur held the first round of talks with Vietnam in Buenos Aires on a preferential trade agreement aimed at expanding market access, diversifying exports and fostering investment.

Paraguay granted 36,033 residence permits to foreigners between January and July 2026, 74% more than in the same period last year, including 23,994 to Brazilians, amid the expansion of the Investor Pass program and a 58% increase in applications.

Paraguay exported 75 products to 43 new destinations between January and July 2026, including biodiesel to Singapore, in a diversification drive that generated US$5.5 million from that shipment, according to Rediex data.

Paraguayan entrepreneurs are creating the Paraguay-United Arab Emirates Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (Capecit) and a Business Council before Dubai Chambers to expand commercial relations and take advantage of investment opportunities.

Paraguay and Chile are assessing the creation of an electrical interconnection network to strengthen regional energy security, enable energy exchange, and protect against system vulnerabilities.

Paraguay's Minister of Industry and Commerce, Marco Riquelme, announced a new strategy to replace the cooperation and donations model with Taiwan with one focused on commercial transactions, including direct soybean sales and expanded meat exports.

Paraguay's hotel sector supports merging Senatur with MIC, while travel agencies express caution about the proposal to create a new integrated ministry.

Paraguay's Ministry of Industry and Commerce launched the Expo Maquila and Plaza Mipymes platforms, which will be part of the Paraguay Business Week 2026 in Alto Paraná with the goal of generating $1 billion in business.

Paraguay's Tourism Minister, Jacinto Santa María, resigned after three months for "personal and dignity reasons", and the government announced the merger of the portfolio with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

Paraguay recorded a 40% increase in foreign direct investment in 2025, driven by hydropower and telecommunications, while the government launches strategies like the 'Industrial Revolution' to attract more capital and double GDP with sectoral reforms.

The Paraguayan Senate postponed the vote on the fuel transparency law and the insurance bill to form working groups, following objections from regulatory bodies and lack of consensus in committees.

Paraguay implemented a new permanent residence visa for foreign investors requiring applications starting at $70,000 in productive, tourism, real estate, or financial sectors.

Paraguay's Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) warns that over 60% of microenterprises resort to loan sharks, with interest rates that can exceed 10% per month, and announces initiatives such as the 'Adelanta' factoring mechanism to facilitate access to formal credit.

The Paraguayan government and the APCC highlight the contact center sector, vital for generating youth employment and exporting services, and promote an international congress in September to consolidate the country as a hub for the sector.

The "Ahorrá PY" campaign, promoted by the Paraguayan Chamber of Wholesale and Retail Merchants with government support, offers discounts on more than 400 basic basket products starting this Saturday.

Paraguay's Ministry of Industry and Commerce has created a business council to ensure continuity of sectoral policies across governments and presented a zoning plan to develop specialized industrial hubs in regions like Caaguazú and Caazapá.

A study by Aneaes indicates that graduates from accredited programs in Paraguay earn up to 13% higher salaries in formal employment, while a critic points out that the public sector is the largest employer of professionals from non-accredited courses.

The Paraguayan government has announced a full exemption and discounts of up to 75% on more than 100 procedures for micro and small businesses holding the Mipyme ID. The measure was presented at the Mipyme 360 Forum to boost the sector that generates the majority of jobs in the country.

Residency applications in Paraguay increased by 62% in the first half of 2026, totaling over 33,000 requests, with Brazilians representing the majority of applicants, leading the government to adopt measures to streamline the procedures.

The Paraguayan government has reduced the mandatory biodiesel blend in diesel to 7% until the end of 2026, with an increase to 8% starting in 2027, following dialogue with the productive sector.