Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi met the Foreign Minister of Paraguay, Jose’ Felix Fernandez Estigarriba, at the Farnesina today, 19 March 2013. Minister Estigarriba was in Rome with the President of Paraguay, Federico Franco, to attend the ceremonies marking the beginning of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Francis.
The talks focused on bilateral and regional economic questions. With trade amounting to 288 million euros and a growth rate of 4% in 2011, Paraguay is a promising Latin American commercial partner for Italy. During the meeting, Minister Terzi confirmed our country’s interest in boosting the Italian business presence in Paraguay, in a legal framework, and with investment protection mechanisms, that are increasingly favourable to foreign enterprises.
Minister Terzi told his colleague that he hoped the forthcoming elections would be conducted smoothly. The people of Paraguay will be voting for a new President of the Republic and members of Parliament, including those who will represent the country in “Parlasur”, the Parliament of Mercosur, the “Common Market of the South”.
