Uruguayan IT, architecture and construction businessmen explored opportunities in the Paraguayan market

Asunción, Paraguay, was the destination of a new trade mission organized by Uruguay XXI, this time focusing on the Technology, Architecture, Engineering and Construction sectors. The mission explored the potential of the Paraguayan market and included Uruguayan businessmen willing to establish business and generate commercial links with that country.

In this context, business meetings were held on the basis of a business agenda prepared by the Paraguayan Industrial Union. The Uruguayan companies Aeromarine, Technobeef, Concepto, K2B, Hikko and ITC, from the ICT sector, participated; while from the AEC sector, Lab Sud, CDS Ingenieros, Tatú Arquitectura, Montans Fagundez Architects, Prodie, Ingnova Ingeniería, Genba, LGD Arquitectos, DICA & Asociados, Barbot Ingenieros and Enginlabs were present.

During the two-day commercial visit, more than 100 meetings were held between local and Paraguayan companies. All the local businessmen stated that they expect to generate business from the contacts established in Asunción.

Martín Ferreira, director of Enginlabs, a company specialized in road engineering, was one of the businessmen who participated with the idea of exploring this market for the first time. The company, which already operates in European countries, aims to reach South America. “We had very good meetings. The contacts that Uruguay XXI made for us were very attractive and interested in our service proposal”, he said.

In addition, he valued the Paraguayan market for its similarities with the Uruguayan one. “We understand that we can offer the same services as here and that there is a lot to do in road engineering”, he said, adding that Enginlabs has grown a lot in the last year and wants to continue expanding the market of clients to keep growing. Ferreira, who has already sent quotations to three Paraguayan companies, highlighted the professional work carried out by the executives of Uruguay XXI, who provided him with “a broad view on the export of services”.

Meanwhile, Alejandro Lemos, general manager of ITC, a telecommunications company with presence in several countries in the region, including Paraguay, said that they continue to identify a market with great potential for their products and services, especially in the consulting and support sector to achieve the digital transformation of public sector companies.

With experience in trade missions, he considered that they are fundamental for internationalization processes, to establish strategic contacts and generate business opportunities. “The experience in this trade mission was extremely positive. The scheduled meetings were very productive and allowed us to establish valuable contacts with potential clients. I would like to highlight the organization of the mission, which facilitated all logistical aspects and provided constant support. We also achieved a very good synergy with some of the Uruguayan companies that participated,” said Lemos.

The co-founder of the technology company Hikko, Sebastián Galli, considered the mission very productive. “We were able to reach contacts that we could not reach with the networks and make a better presentation through Uruguay XXI, the embassy and the Paraguayan Industrial Union. At the moment we have several opportunities that are moving forward”, he commented.

Regarding the Paraguayan market, he said that it is interesting for the company's expansion, since the products it offers are focused on the banking and health sectors and are applicable only to large companies. Galli also pointed out that Uruguayan software is very well considered abroad and this makes things easier when it comes to getting references.

For the director of the construction company Prodie, Juan Bresque, the visit to Paraguay was positive since his main objective was to explore the market and learn about the country's current situation in the energy sector, as well as future projections. “The meetings that were arranged for us were sufficient for the first major objective that we had set ourselves,” he said.

About the Paraguayan market he pointed out that “there is a very big potential” to apply their projects based on the experience acquired in Uruguay. “Our expertise in the execution of high, medium and low voltage electrical projects, as well as in renewable energy and energy efficiency, is of great applicability for the Paraguayan market, which has many similar characteristics to Uruguay”, he analyzed.

Within the framework of the trade mission, an activity also took place at the offices of CPA Ferrere, with the participation of the Investment and Export Network (REDIEX), the agency in charge of implementing Paraguay's National Export Plan. The meeting included a presentation of the business climate in Paraguay, the main macroeconomic indicators and the tax and legal benefits offered by this country to foreign companies. Later, the Uruguayan Embassy in Asunción organized a reception for the entire business delegation, which was attended by representatives of the Paraguayan government and business chambers.

The visit was also supported by the Uruguayan Embassy in Paraguay, the Uruguayan-Paraguayan Chamber of Commerce, the Uruguayan Chamber of Information Technology (CUTI), the Uruguayan Chamber of Architecture and Engineering Services (CUSAI) and the Chamber of Construction (CCU).

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