Asunción, Agencia IP.- The President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, assisted in the anniversary celebration of one of the largest multinational auto parts factories worldwide, the German firm Leoni, which began operations in Paraguay 10 years ago. “We want job sources to be able to multiply in a much more important way in the coming years,” he expressed.
The celebration was on Thursday in San Lorenzo, where the factory is located. Other national, departmental and local authorities were present as well.
Peña remembered that ten years ago, he was present at the opening of the industrial plant when he was Director of the Board of the Central Bank of Paraguay. Back then, it was something new that investors came into the maquila regime that was little-known and used.
“We thought that the Mercosur regime was our main attraction, but the Leoni investors found other investment opportunities in our country. A lot of advances were seen during these last ten years of Leoni, not only for the enterprise but for the country as well”, referred Peña.
Paraguay is the German firm’s operational base in South America. “That all the new factories that will be opened will do so in Paraguay and no longer in any other country in the region is a great reason for pride for all Paraguayans”, he claimed.
During his speech, the President admitted that the most recurrent request of the people is work access to prosper on their own. He said that the best policy is the generation of employment.
“For us, coming here to celebrate ten years of a worldwide enterprise with centuries of history such as Leoni is very important. We must never lose the capacity to look where we come from; in these ten years that have passed, there have been major advances and improvements in the city of San Lorenzo and Paraguay”, he stated.
Anniversary of the currency
On the other hand, the Head of state remembered that today is a day for celebration in Paraguay since its currency, the Guaraní, turns 80 years of use. It is the second oldest currency among the countries in Latin America.
“This is a reason to feel pride because it is a symbol of the strength of the Paraguayan economy, of stability and the progress we have been going through, so we are looking at the future with much optimism”, he mentioned.
Finally, he addressed Leoni’s managers, pointing out that “we want them to feel at home and that sources of employment can multiply in a much more important way in the coming years”.