Asunción's business groups launch '7 Commitments' to rescue city from crisis

Business and development organizations in Paraguay are demanding urgent reforms to Asunción's municipal government, warning that the current structure is "no longer functioning."

The Council for the Development of Asunción (Codeasu), along with major business associations, has launched a "7 Commitments for Asunción" initiative. This plan, developed by 25 specialists, seeks to secure a binding agreement from candidates for mayor and council positions to implement a "profound reform and modernization" of the city's outdated municipal administration.

Inspired by the urban transformation model of Medellín, Colombia, the initiative highlights Asunción's "persistent decay" and the lack of effective solutions to its structural problems. Codeasu emphasizes the need for active civil society involvement and institutional commitment from businesses, arguing that the current public management system is overwhelmed.

Architect Carla Linares explained the project's strategy as "urban acupuncture," focusing on simultaneous interventions in critical points rather than scattered, temporary fixes. The goal is to demonstrate substantial change in the city's dynamics within a short period by impacting key components like institutional modernization, urban mobility, public transport, and decentralization of neighborhoods.

“

the Municipality of the capital 'no longer functions as it is'