Paraguay's Minister of Industry and Commerce, Marco Riquelme, and the president of the Paraguayan American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham), Elías Saba, announced the holding of a strategic forum on June 26 in San Francisco, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley. The event, organized by Amcham in partnership with Paraguayan Venture Capital (Parcapy), aims to position Paraguay as a hub for the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI), clean energy, and digital infrastructure.
The forum will feature presentations and discussions involving representatives from the Paraguayan government and leaders from the technology sectors of Paraguay and Silicon Valley. Key topics will include the creation of data centers, the development of AI in Paraguay, and investment opportunities in the country. The event will bring together around 100 to 120 participants, including executives from technology companies in the United States and Paraguay.
Marco Riquelme highlighted Paraguay's privileged position to become a regional center for artificial intelligence, emphasizing the availability of 2.5 gigawatts of immediately accessible renewable electric power, a crucial resource for operating data centers and AI systems. He explained that for every 100 megawatts used in AI, the country could attract investments on the order of 5 billion dollars, representing about 10% of the national GDP.
The minister also mentioned that the government is preparing a bill to encourage the development of artificial intelligence, establishing a regulatory and tax framework to ensure that the resources generated remain in Paraguay and contribute to local development. Additionally, he highlighted cooperation with Taiwan for the construction of the Digital District, which will include the headquarters of the Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University (UPTP), located near Parque Guasu Metropolitano, and will serve as a hub for training in software engineering and artificial intelligence.
The Silicon Valley forum will also include participation from directors of the University of San José, who will address the educational training needed to support the technology sector, as well as representatives from leading AI companies, data centers, and energy firms. The event aims to strengthen ties between Paraguayan business leaders and the U.S. tech community, fostering collaboration opportunities and attracting investment to Paraguay.