Paraguay is all in when it comes to the government’s commitment to positioning the country as the new technology and innovation hub of South America. Civic leaders, such as Vanessa Cañete, president of the Paraguayan Chamber of the Software Industry, and Gabriela Cibils, computing and neuroscience graduate from UC Berkeley, are at the forefront of efforts to energize and educate the country’s youth. Paraguay has been making significant efforts to move their young people toward technology careers.
Cañete is a passionate champion for preparing more young people for STEM careers. She especially illustrates the importance of bridging the gender divide in this industry. Girls Code has inspired and trained more than 1,000 teens and young women in the fields of programming and robotics. Their goal is to encourage more young women to develop fruitful careers in computer engineering. “We are working really hard to create a mass of software engineers, programmers and everything you need to provide software services,” she stated.
Gabriela Cibils is a visionary and entrepreneur who, like her counterpart in Brazil, is on a mission to land big technology firms in Paraguay. Taking cues from her time in Silicon Valley, she wants to create a climate that attracts and promotes innovators. “I experienced personally the positive change that technology can bring to your life,” Cibils said. My time in Silicon Valley really helped me expand my consciousness to a whole different world. Now I’m committed to taking that mindset back and mixing it with the amazing talent in Paraguay.
Paraguay’s strategy is anchored by its world-leading approach to hydroelectric power generation. This energy source meets 90% of the country’s electricity needs and even delivers 10% of Brazil’s electricity thanks to the Itaipu Dam on the Paraná River. With Paraguay’s promise of 100% hydroelectric power, they are an excellent candidate for technology investments. According to local expert Sebastian Ortiz-Chamorro, this makes hydroelectric power even more crucial. Creating a dependable, renewable energy source is key, especially as data centers and other electricity-intensive industries increasingly demand clean, renewable energy sources. Ortiz-Chamorro underlined that hydroelectric power is renewable and, most importantly, reliable. If you’re thinking about attracting tech companies such as AI data centers, keep this key point in mind.
Gustavo Villate, Paraguay’s Minister of Technology and Communication, pointed to the optimal climate for burgeoning development. After all, “We have the lowest average age in the country! Our access to renewable green energy in addition to our low taxes and great economy makes us unique!” he said. All three make for an environment that’s ripe for technological advancement and investment.
In an effort to further stimulate this growth, President Santiago Peña visited California last year to encourage major companies like Google and OpenAI to invest in Paraguay. His administration has announced plans for a new digital park near Asunción’s main airport, with an expected completion time of under two years. The new digital park will include a lake ecosystem along with amenities such as a performance hall and childcare center. These spaces will catalyze further development of a collaborative tech environment.
The Paraguayan government is committing some $20 million (£15 million) to begin development of the park’s first phase. They’ve counted on the private sector to step in and deliver all that additional funding magic. Ortiz-Chamorro argued that hydroelectricity provides a more dependable energy source compared with intermittent renewables such as wind or solar. This makes it especially attractive for supplying energy to data centers and other extremely energy-intensive undertakings.
Paraguay is in the process of making massive strides to get up to speed technologically. Through initiatives driven by leaders like Cañete and Cibils, the country is looking to position itself to be a competitive player in the global tech arena. They want to provide new economic opportunities for young Paraguayans. Most critically, though, they want to inspire a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in them.