Q: In what areas does Paraguay have opportunities for growth?
A: Paraguay has several very important competitive advantages. The country is a food producer, involving agriculture and cattle-raising. We're also a clean energy producer; we're the largest energy exporter in the region. We consume only about 6% of the output of Itaipú [a hydroelectric plant on the border between Paraguay and Brazil] and we're now in discussion with a foreign company [Rio Tinto Alcan of Canada] over the installation of an aluminium plant, which is very energy-intensive. The [aluminium] project is being studied by an economic team within the government, formed by the finance minister, the central bank governor and the industry, agriculture and public works ministries. It is a signal of the level of interest in the country.
