Minister of Industry and Commerce Marco Riquelme visited the district of Ayolas in the department of Misiones this Wednesday to assess sites earmarked for the installation of new industrial parks. The ministerial delegation included Deputy Minister of Commerce Alberto Sborovsky and Deputy Minister of Industry Javier Viveros, who met with local mayor Carlos Duarte (ANR-HC), council members, and representatives from the Ayolas Chamber of Commerce.
Also present at the meeting were technical staff from the Yacyretá Binational Entity (EBY), including engineer Carlos Yorg, manager of the Aña Cua works on the right bank; Ronny Ayala, Paraguayan head of the plant's Technical Department; and Lucio Belotto, the entity's financial chief. The goal was to align efforts among the municipality, the EBY, and the ministry to make the necessary infrastructure viable.
Riquelme explained that the visit is part of a national land-use planning scheme, an essential condition for attracting both Paraguayan and foreign investors. According to the minister, it is necessary to organize industrial zones and guarantee basic services such as electricity, water, and access roads. He highlighted the strategy of channeling the energy surplus currently ceded to Brazil toward future industrial areas, fostering economic development in various regions of the country.
The Ayolas land-use planning project was presented during the visit, an initiative considered crucial given that only 40 of Paraguay's 248 municipalities currently have this type of planning in place. The minister expressed his desire for Ayolas to become one of the next to complete this stage, thereby facilitating the attraction of capital.
Mayor Carlos Duarte stated that the district meets favorable conditions to host industries and that the technical discussions have advanced significantly. "We are in a position to accommodate at least one industry before the end of the year. We have the physical space and the electricity," Duarte declared. He emphasized that the installation of these companies aims to generate local jobs, positively impacting families in the region.