Asunción, Agencia IP.- The President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, emphasized that Paraguay has all the necessary conditions to push forward an ambitious forest expansion plan. The next step, he stated, is clear: «to become a platform for large pulp plants, free trade zones for services, and quality jobs for Paraguayans.»
During his visit to Finland, Peña toured the Valmet plant, a company with over 200 years of experience in providing solutions for the pulp, paper, and bioenergy industries.
«I saw their technology and processes up close, and we discussed something key: Paraguay’s potential to attract investments of this level,» the President shared on his social media.
In that context, Peña highlighted that Paraguay has land, stability, energy, and an ambitious forest expansion plan. «The next step is clear: to become a platform for large pulp plants, free trade zones for services, and quality jobs for Paraguayans,» he reiterated.
Strategic agreements
As part of the official visit led by Santiago Peña, notable agreements were signed with Finnish companies Valtra and Ponsse, global leaders in the manufacturing of tractors and forestry machinery, respectively.
The Paraguayan government emphasized that these partnerships will allow for the implementation of training simulators in Paraguay, in collaboration with private sector companies, with the goal of training between 250 and 300 young people in the operation of high-tech machinery.
Additionally, young people trained in Paraguay will have the opportunity to complete their training in Uruguay and Finland, reinforcing the focus on employability, technology transfer, and regional development.
During this mission, Paraguay also signed two memorandums of understanding with the government of Finland—one in the field of education and another related to the environment and climate change.
Both agreements aim to strengthen bilateral cooperation in educational innovation, the circular economy, compliance with the Paris Agreement, and the transition toward a more sustainable economic model.
Beyond large-scale projects, smaller industries dedicated to the production of wood-based construction materials (such as flooring, roofing, and walls) are also being established in Paraguay. These create direct employment in inland cities and benefit from programs like Maquila and investment incentive laws, stated Javier Giménez, Minister of Industry and Commerce, who is part of the delegation accompanying President Peña on his visit to Finland.