Paraguay targets value-added forestry industry and job growth

Paraguay is aiming to consolidate a forestry industry focused on job creation and the export of value-added products. During the opening of the 6th Expo Madera, Minister of Industry and Commerce Marco Riquelme stated that the sector offers an opportunity to transform low-yield cattle ranching lands into highly productive forestry areas.

Minister Riquelme noted that forestry activities can generate between 80 and 100 formal, specialized, and decentralized jobs per thousand hectares. This strategy is intended to combat rural exodus by bringing manufacturing and employment to the country's interior regions. To support this, the government is utilizing tools like the Competitive Intelligence Map to provide data on infrastructure, energy, and labor availability to attract investment.

The ultimate goal is to move beyond exporting unprocessed logs and instead develop a productive chain capable of transforming wood for international markets.