Asunción Mayoral Candidate Faces Demands for Better Services and Investment Climate

Asunción mayoral candidate Soledad Núñez has pledged honesty and a commitment to eliminating bureaucracy during a meeting with the Paraguayan Chamber of Supermarkets (CAPASU). The business sector, in turn, pressed Núñez on critical issues ranging from waste collection and fumigation to the need for greater predictability in investments and infrastructure projects, highlighting current municipal deficiencies.

During the discussion, CAPASU representatives, led by president Gustavo Lezcano, outlined the primary challenges facing supermarkets, businesses, and investors in the capital. They called for a more organized, efficient, and predictable municipal administration, citing a lack of clarity in regulations and control mechanisms, as well as insufficient institutional capacity to respond promptly to private sector needs. The chamber also emphasized the importance of specialized attention for large taxpayers through a dedicated office to streamline municipal procedures.

Participants expressed concern over the lack of predictability for investments and construction, inadequate legal guarantees, and deficiencies in essential municipal services. Specifically, they pointed to unreliable and inconsistent waste collection and the urgent need to reform and enhance fumigation services. The current administration under Oscar Nenecho Rodríguez has been criticized for its handling of these services.

In response, Núñez committed to building a trustworthy, modern, efficient, and professional municipality centered on its citizens. She prioritized simplifying and expediting procedures, reducing red tape, and providing clear, timely responses. Núñez also proposed forming a permanent working group with the private sector to foster investments, create jobs, and boost Asunción's competitiveness. Additionally, she suggested establishing an Investment Agency to support entrepreneurs and investors, facilitating administrative processes and contributing to the city's economic development.