Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) represent 24% of Paraguay's commercial movement and generate 70% of formal jobs, but digitalization is still a bottleneck. According to the national director of Entrepreneurship of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC), Romina Da Re, only 15% of these businesses have their own online store.
“There is an immense opportunity, since 8 out of 10 Paraguayans already shop online and more than 50% prefer local brands,” said Da Re during the launch of the fourth edition of Expo eCommerce 2026, an event organized by the Paraguayan Chamber of Electronic Commerce (Capace) with support from the Vice Ministry of MSMEs of the MIC.
E-commerce moves about US$ 2 billion per year in the country, with annual growth of 20%, according to the director. She stressed that the sector is no longer a future projection and has consolidated as an industry, but warned that the challenge is to turn consumer interest into active and competitive digital stores that operate 24 hours a day.
One of the main pillars of Expo eCommerce 2026 will be the E-commerce Lab, a practical training space aimed at entrepreneurs and small businesses. “We will work on fundamental topics such as creating a real eCommerce and implementing secure payment gateways, both for the business and for the customer,” explained Da Re.
The fair takes place on May 21 and will bring together references from the Paraguayan digital ecosystem. The director argued that the sector's growth must be inclusive, allowing small producers and merchants to compete on equal terms in an increasingly digitalized global market.