Asunción, Agencia IP.- With President Santiago Peña in attendance, construction began last Wednesday in Paso Horqueta, Concepción, on the infrastructure of the Paracel industrial plant, Paraguay’s largest private investment, which aims to make the country a world-class forestry and industrial leader.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Paracel CEO Flavio Deganutti stated that after seven years in Paraguay and an investment of US$1.5 billion, with more than 110 million trees planted, a new phase is beginning.
«Today we are starting a hub, a hub that includes a river port, power transmission lines, access roads, and logistics infrastructure, which will be the backbone of an unprecedented industrial ecosystem in Concepción,» he said.
He emphasized that this infrastructure has a clear purpose: to pave the way for the pulp mill that will transform forestry production into the raw material of the future, «in an industry that the world demands and that Paraguay will produce with the highest standards.»
He highlighted that Paso Horqueta is where Paraguay is writing one of the most important chapters in its economic history, mentioning the direct impact this investment is already having on the population of the Concepción department.
«Today, Paracel directly employs more than 1,200 people, 95% of whom are Paraguayan, and 70% of whom are from the Concepción department. In the 41 communities within our area of influence, we operate 14 social programs structured around four pillars: community infrastructure, income generation, health and safety, and education,» he explained.
He also noted that Paracel’s investment is already attracting other industries to establish themselves in Paraguay. In this regard, he mentioned the signing of an agreement with the Sudati Group, the largest manufacturer and exporter of plywood in Brazil.
«Sudati is joining the Paracel industrial development hub with an investment of over US$200 million, generating more than 2,000 direct jobs over the next five years, linked to both the industrial and forestry sectors,» he announced.
The CEO of Paracel emphasized the significance of President Santiago Peña’s presence at this investment event. «His presence is not merely ceremonial. It is the most powerful signal we can send to the world: that Paraguay supports its most ambitious projects with seriousness and confidence, and that this country is committed to industrial development and inclusive growth,» he stated.
Paraguay attracts large-scale private investment
For his part, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) representative in Paraguay, Alonso Chaverri Suárez, noted that Paraguay is consolidating increasingly attractive conditions for large-scale private investment.
«Its stability, productive potential, availability of natural resources, and strategic location, among other factors, offer a valuable foundation for attracting capital, technology, and expertise,» he said.
Finally, he considered this industrial park in Paracel to have particularly strategic value. «It is destined to become a landmark for consolidating the country’s first sustainable forestry industrial hub and strengthening a value chain with high potential for Paraguay,» he stated.