The Government of Santa Catarina participated in the 14th edition of Expo Paraguay-Brazil, the largest business event between the two countries, in the city of Luque, next to the country’s capital Asunción. Among the leaders from Santa Catarina who were at the fair on the 21st and 22nd of this month there were the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Juliano Froehner; the director of the Secretariat of Industry, Commerce and Services (Sicos), César Augustus Winck; and the president of the Chamber of Foreign Trade of the Federation of Industries (Camex-Fiesc), Maria Teresa Bustamante.

In addition to visiting the fair, they had a meeting with the Brazilian ambassador for Paraguay, José Antônio Narcondes de Carvalho, and with leaders of that country’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Due to proximity and common interests, Paraguay is one of Santa Catarina’s main economic partners, also a destination for branches of various industries and agricultural companies in the State.

“In Governor Jorginho Mello’s view, Paraguay is a close and stable partner with whom we already have economic relations, but we want to expand mainly in relation to the power of supply chain integration. In other words, it is a country with which we want to increase our competitiveness by joining forces”, explained Secretary Froehner about Santa Catarina’s participation.

At the stand, the government showed the attractions of Santa Catarina’s economy. In the first half of this year, exports from Santa Catarina to Paraguay reached US$ 164.7 million, the total number of Paraguayan visitors to the State added to 4,323 people, being the third largest group of foreign tourists in SC.

According to Bustamante, the president of Fiesc, Mario Aguiar, highlights internationalization as a guideline for the entity’s management, who was present with a delegation of businesspeople. “We always participate in the exhibition, and this year, we have our own stand and several industries from Santa Catarina are exhibiting at the fair”, said the president of Camex-Fiesc.