Economist Jorge Garicoche states that Paraguay, which attracts low-scale foreign investments mainly in plastics and textiles, needs more stable rules in infrastructure and energy to capture larger and impactful projects, remaining a strategic destination for Brazilian entrepreneurs.
maquila
Maquila refers to Paraguay's export-oriented manufacturing and assembly regime. It is important for industrial policy, jobs, investment, and trade with Brazil and other markets.
Paraguay recorded a 35% increase in the establishment of foreign companies in 2025, totaling 660 new firms, according to Vice Minister Eduardo Gustale.
The trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, in force since May 1, 2026, guarantees zero or preferential tariffs for 95% of Paraguayan exports to the European market, consolidating the country as a production and export platform geared toward Europe.
The maquila regime in Paraguay is experiencing its best moment, driven by the apparel sector. The alliance between Texcin and the Dass group resulted in Dass-Tex, which has already invested over US$40 million and plans to create 1,200 jobs. Brands such as Nike, Umbro and Asics are expected to begin production in the country soon.
Paraguay's Deputy Minister of Industry, Javier Viveros, took part in the Conexa 2026 event in Florianópolis, where he presented investment opportunities in the country to more than 3,000 Brazilian businesspeople, highlighting the maquila and real estate sectors.
Paraguay's maquila regime attracts brands such as Lacoste, Wrangler, Fila, and Good American, which already produce in the country. The system offers tax exemptions on inputs and machinery, provided the final product is exported. Beyond garment manufacturing, the sector is expanding into services like telemedicine and software development, concentrating in four strategic zones.
The Feria Empresarial del Paraguay (FEPY) already brings together 20 countries for its 2026 International Business Round, with 55.46% of registrations coming from abroad. The organization is betting on decentralization to include companies from the department of Alto Paraná and surpass the US$ 260 million in business intentions from the previous edition.
Experts point out that Paraguay's fiscal advantages, while still relevant, have lost weight given the need for improvements in infrastructure, legal security, and quality of public services.
Paraguay offers five tax advantages to attract investment, including reduced income tax rates, VAT between 5% and 10%, no wealth tax (except real estate), and special regimes such as the Maquila Law and Free Trade Zones, according to data from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and the National Directorate of Tax Revenue (DNIT).
With a US$40 million investment, Subatlantic Paraguay will set up an industrial cold-storage facility in Hohenau, Itapúa, processing 20 tons of Argentine langoustines daily for export to Europe, Canada, and the United States, generating up to 600 direct jobs.
The city of Hohenau, in the department of Itapúa, is advancing with an industrial park that includes a shrimp processing plant, with a US$40 million investment from the international consortium South Atlantic Paraguay. The project, under a public-private partnership model, is expected to generate up to 600 direct jobs and strengthen the region as a border industrial hub.
Brazilian group Dass, a manufacturer of footwear and apparel for brands such as Nike, Adidas, Fila, and Umbro, announced an investment of about US$40 million to set up a plant in Mariano Roque Alonso, near Asunción, under the maquila regime. The company already generates about 600 jobs in the country.
Exports under Paraguay's maquila regime reached US$ 471 million between January and April 2026, driven mainly by the auto parts sector. Brazil remains the primary destination for shipments.
Paraguay's maquila regime recorded exports of US$471 million in the first four months of 2026, an increase of US$83 million compared to the same period in 2025. The sector generated 1,154 new jobs and approved 24 new investment programs. Additionally, brands such as Fila, Umbro, Nike, ASICS, and Champion are already producing in the country, with emphasis on the partnership between Grupo Texcin and Grupo Dass.
Dass Group, a Brazilian manufacturer of brands such as Nike, Adidas, Fila, Umbro, Asics and Champion, has transferred its production line from Argentina to Paraguay, attracted by tax incentives from the Maquila Regime. The new plant, inaugurated in March, received a US$ 40 million investment. While the factory in Coronel Suárez (Buenos Aires) was closed, the unit in Eldorado (Misiones) operates at reduced capacity, generating uncertainty among workers.
Mirtha Arias, the new IPS councilor, plans to reduce contribution evasion in border cities using technology and partnerships with DNIT and Mitic, aiming to increase revenue and improve insured members' health.