Paraguay, UAE leaders meet to boost investment, trade

Paraguay's President Santiago Peña hosted the United Arab Emirates' Minister for Foreign Trade, Thani Al Zeyoudi, and a delegation of business leaders to foster increased investment and commercial exchange. The meeting, held on Monday in Asunción, marked the opening of the Paraguay-United Arab Emirates Business Leaders Forum.

Peña expressed his hope that the gathering would usher in a "new stage in friendship" between the two nations, moving beyond mere trade to collaborative ventures in infrastructure, logistics, renewable energy, green hydrogen, and data centers. He lauded the UAE as a "global benchmark," highlighting its extensive trade agreements and significant foreign direct investment, stating, "That is exactly the kind of friendly country that Paraguay wants."

The Paraguayan president also noted tangible results from the bilateral relationship, including the upcoming construction of an electric commuter train connecting Asunción with Ypacaraí, a project involving a UAE public company. Additionally, the UAE market has opened to Paraguayan poultry and sheep meat imports.

Minister Al Zeyoudi described Paraguay as a "valuable and constructive partner," emphasizing the dynamism of their relationship. He reported that non-oil trade between the two countries reached approximately $250 million in 2025, representing a 54% increase compared to 2024. This follows a visit by UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Reem Al Hashimy, to Paraguay in January, where she met with business representatives.