National and departmental authorities were present at the inauguration of such an important space.
With the presence of the President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, and supported by a strategic alliance between the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Itaipú Paraguay Technology Park (PTI Paraguay), the official opening of the SBDC Paraguay Business Development Center took place in the department of Alto Paraná.
This inaugural event marked a significant milestone in strengthening the business environment, especially aimed at micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the area, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing tools and resources for the sustainable growth and development of companies. local.
The event included the participation of the Paraguayan general director of Itaipú Binacional, Eng. Justo Zacarías Irún, as well as the presence of other prominent authorities of the Government of Paraguay, highlighting the strategic importance of this initiative for the economic development of the country.
The Itaipú Paraguay Technology Park (PTI Paraguay) was designated by the Vice Ministry of MSMEs as the “Headquarters Institution” of the Business Development Center – SBDC Paraguay for Alto Paraná, confirming its crucial role in promoting entrepreneurship and economic development in area.
The project, promoted by the Vice Ministry of MSMEs and supported by financing from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Taiwan Technical Mission (Taiwan ICDF) through the FOMIPYMES Project, has as its main objective to provide assistance high-quality technology to local companies. This joint effort reflects the government’s commitment to promoting sustainable growth, innovation and business formalization in the region.
The executive director of PTI Paraguay, Mag. Carlos Mercado, welcomed the first Business Innovation Center of Alto Paraná with pride and emotion. Mercado highlighted the hard work carried out to turn this dream into a tangible reality, “my gratitude to the vice minister of MSMEs and the PTI Paraguay team, as well as to state institutions, the international community and the private sector for their unprecedented collaboration in this project”. He underscored the importance of USAID funding and Taiwan’s technical mission, backed by the expertise of the University of Texas at San Antonio, in implementing this center, which represents a crucial step toward business progress in Paraguay.
Likewise, he recognized the fundamental support of Itaipú Binacional, represented by its general director, Ing. Justo Zacarías, whose generous gesture in providing the space for the SBDC Center in Ciudad del Este reflects the shared commitment to achieving the country’s development goals. He affirmed the commitment of PTI Paraguay to work side by side with the government in this joint effort, in search of a prosperous and dignified future for all Paraguayans.
In his turn, the Minister of Industry and Commerce (MIC), Javier Giménez, emphasized the need for a change of mentality to promote economic and social development in Paraguay. He highlighted the inauguration of the first Business Development Center (SBDC) in Ciudad del Este, highlighting its objective of providing tools to entrepreneurs to overcome obstacles towards business formalization and access to new markets. Giménez underscored the government’s commitment to creating favorable conditions for business success, expressing confidence in the potential of the country and its people to grow and prosper.
To conclude the event, the president of the republic, Santiago Peña, expressed that his task is not limited to the construction of physical infrastructure such as bridges, routes, hospitals and schools. He also emphasized the need to promote a cultural change that propels us into the future. He highlighted that authentic progress requires ingenuity and imagination, these being fundamental elements to build the bridge to development.
Furthermore, Peña emphasized, “economic growth alone is not enough. It is necessary to go further and ensure that the training offered translates into tangible job opportunities,” he concluded.