LUQUE, PARAGUAY – Paraguay has unveiled an ambitious plan to emerge as a new logistics hub in South America. Last week, the Paraguayan government announced the hosting of Expo Logistics 2025, set to take place from June 11 to 12 at the CONMEBOL facilities. This declaration strongly articulates the nation's resolve to establish itself as a regional logistics center by leveraging its strategic location and enhancing its transportation infrastructure.

Alongside the Expo announcement, Rodrigo Maluff, Vice Minister of Commerce and Services, stated that the goal is to modernize the Paraguay-Paraná waterway to connect trade from Bolivia and Brazil's Mato Grosso region, and to reduce cargo transportation time to Southeast Asian markets, especially Taiwan, by up to 40%. This highlights Paraguay's aspiration to transcend its geographical limitation as a landlocked country and maximize logistics efficiency as the heart of the South American continent.

 
Expanding Infrastructure and Strengthening International Cooperation

Paraguay's logistics hub strategy extends beyond mere waterway improvements. Plans include constructing a new cargo terminal at Silvio Pettirossi Airport to enhance international cargo handling capabilities. Additionally, a regional railway project connecting Encarnación with export ports in Uruguay is also underway. These efforts are ultimately expected to reduce export costs and promote public-private cooperation, contributing to Paraguay's economic revitalization.

Vice Minister Maluff emphasized, "Paraguay is building the conditions to become a regional logistics bridgehead, especially aiming to reduce cargo transportation time to Southeast Asian markets like Taiwan by up to 40%." He added, "We want logistics expansion beyond Asunción." This demonstrates an intention to decentralize and streamline the logistics system, which is currently concentrated in the capital, Asunción, across the nation. Furthermore, he noted, "We are working on all logistics fronts to support the private sector and reduce export costs," suggesting an expectation of synergistic effects through close cooperation between the government and the private sector.

 
Significance of Expo Logistics 2025

Expo Logistics 2025 is set to be a crucial platform for Paraguay to showcase its ambitious plans to the world and attract investment. The event will bring together over 130 companies from various countries, including China, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, for conferences, exhibitions, and business rounds. This will be an important opportunity for Paraguay to elevate its status within the international logistics network and forge potential partnerships.

Notably, Paraguay has historically faced challenges due to its landlocked geography, resulting in high logistics costs and long transit times. However, through this logistics hub strategy, the nation aims to overcome these disadvantages and leverage its central geographical advantage within the South American continent to emerge as a logistics base for neighboring countries. This implies the potential to provide an efficient conduit for products from southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia, and northern Argentina, connecting them to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans via Paraguay.

 
Exploring Cooperation Opportunities with Portugal

Meanwhile, Vice Minister Maluff held meetings last week in Lisbon with Raúl Silvero, the Paraguayan Ambassador to Portugal, and Natalia Cáceres, the Commercial Attaché. They visited Ramírez, a food processing company that produces canned tuna, sardines, salmon, and octopus, confirming the company's expressed interest in expanding its operations to Paraguay. Some of Ramírez's products are already reportedly sold in Ciudad del Este.

Vice Minister Maluff promised, "We will connect Paraguayan industries interested in this great opportunity for industrial complementarity between the representatives of Portugal's Ramírez industry and Paraguayan industries." This demonstrates Paraguay's proactive approach not only in its role as a logistics hub but also in directly attracting industrial investment and strengthening its industrial ecosystem. Investment from foreign companies like Ramírez is expected to have a positive impact on Paraguay's economic growth and job creation.

 
Foreshadowing Shifts in South American Logistics Landscape

Paraguay's logistics hub strategy has the potential to transform the entire logistics landscape of the South American continent, beyond merely boosting its own economic development. The modernization of the Paraguay-Paraná waterway will enhance the efficiency of inland transport via the 'La Plata River Basin,' significantly reducing logistics costs for inland regions of Bolivia and Brazil. Additionally, the expansion of railway and airport infrastructure is expected to strengthen the competitiveness of air and land transport, establishing a multifaceted transportation network centered in Paraguay.

This will not only revitalize trade within the South American continent but also improve accessibility to Asian and European markets, contributing to Paraguay's elevated status in global supply chains. However, at the same time, the possibility of increased competition with existing major port nations such as Brazil, Argentina, and Chile cannot be ruled out. Attention is drawn to whether Paraguay can successfully overcome these challenges and fully leverage its geographical advantage as the 'Heart of South America' to truly become a logistics hub.