The Paraguayan government has launched a national public tender to contract protocol event organization services within the framework of the Mercosur Pro Tempore Presidency that the country will hold in 2026. The process, led by the Ministry of Foreign Relations, foresees expenditures of G. 10 billion, equivalent to more than USD 1.6 million.
The contract covers delegation accommodation, hall rentals, catering services, protocol coordination, and the purchase of institutional gifts for foreign authorities who will attend the Mercosur Summit, scheduled for June 29 and 30 in Asunción, with President Santiago Peña as host.
Among the standout items are gifts made from Paraguayan handicrafts: clay pieces, ao po'i shirts, oil paintings by national artists, palo santo wood sculptures, guampas, ñandutí placemats, leather keychains, ao po'i tablecloths, card holders, wallets, and metal brooches. According to the justification document, the acquisition aims to promote the country's cultural diversity and project Paraguayan artisanal wealth internationally as an identity element.
The Presidency's Protocol Directorate maintains that logistics are fundamental to the success of the event, which will have political, economic, cultural, and tourism significance for the country. The tender concluded its evaluation phase and eventual award on Tuesday, June 16, with two companies submitting bids: Organización Integral SRL and Campos Azules SRL.