Paraguay must aim at industrialization as an economic model, said businessman and politician Leite

Businessman and politician Gustavo Leite, former Minister of Industry and Commerce, spoke about the country’s economic situation and pointed out that next year’s recovery depends on a good agricultural campaign.

The candidate for senator for the Honor Colorado movement indicated that Paraguay cannot continue to depend on soybeans and corn, since it must aim at industrialization.

Read also: Check out our coverage on Paraguay

In an analysis carried out in the “Two in the City” program, broadcast by Universo 970 AM/Nación Media, Leite mentioned that working people must get ahead, for which credit and security facilities must be offered at the time of investment for ventures.

Regarding the proposal to lower the price of energy, he indicated that it is not necessary, since Paraguay is already competitive.

“I see that Efraín says that he wants to exchange energy for employment, we did that during the five years of the Cartes government, without lowering the price of energy. We brought more than 200 factories to Paraguay. It is not necessary to lower the energy, it is necessary to give it credibility, Paraguay is already quite competitive, let’s not give away our energy,” he pointed out.

He maintained that it is necessary to analyze how to reach August 15 of next year with the new government, because on that date, the new authorities will take control of the country.

He explained that it is important that the candidates have a pro-growth language and once close to the positions, they send signals so that the investments arrive in the country.

He explained that the negative effects will continue to be felt in the coming years, but added that a good harvest is expected for next year.

However, he stated that if the good development of agricultural products continued, foreign currency income could be generated, but he clarified that the country cannot continue to depend only on a good result of the harvest.

“There is going to be a minibonanza, but we cannot continue depending on soybeans and corn, we have to go to the industrialization model that we propose. Industrialization, for soybeans to become chicken and pork and for us to make an alliance with the other markets in Asia to make great logistics corridors to sell much more, that is what we need,” he added.

LACK OF GROWTH

Leite pointed out that the economy felt the effects of the prolonged drought because in a year where there were good international prices, production fell by 80%, so there was not enough foreign currency to invigorate the economy. Given this, he added that the work to alleviate these difficulties with other work mechanisms was not carried out.

“The jobs to have new industries were not done; the work to grow more in services was not done; the work to dredge the river was not done so that it costs less to enter and leave Paraguay; so, it’s like Paraguay froze and prostituted itself in the last four years and we have to reverse that,” he said.

With information from La Nacion