A high-powered Emirati delegation lands in Asunción, signaling a historic geopolitical pivot that bridges the economic landscapes of the Middle East and South America.
In a brilliant display of expanding transcontinental diplomacy, President Santiago Peña of the Republic of Paraguay formally received Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, during an official state visit to Asunción. The high-level meeting, held in the presence of Dr. Sagheer Al Ahbabi, UAE Ambassador to Paraguay, marked a phenomenal step forward in solidifying the commercial architecture between the two nations. During the reception, Al Zeyoudi conveyed the warm greetings of the Emirati leadership, including President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reinforcing a shared commitment to long-term mutual prosperity.
President Santiago Peña responded with high praise for the rapidly growing momentum of bilateral relations, affirming that Paraguay is fully committed to expanding its investment corridors with the UAE. He stressed the vital importance of leveraging the unique competitive advantages and strategic geographic positions of both nations to accelerate private sector cooperation and establish sustainable economic flows.
Forging High-Value Synergies in Asunción
The ministerial visit was far from a mere diplomatic formality. Dr. Ahmed Al Zeyoudi spearheaded a diverse, heavy-hitting delegation comprising government officials, institutional investors, and prominent business leaders representing elite Emirati enterprises. To build a robust framework for upcoming joint ventures, Al Zeyoudi engaged in rigorous sessions with senior Paraguayan ministers, including Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, Minister of Industry and Commerce Marco Riquelme, and Ministerial Advisor Rodrigo Maluff.
The true centerpiece of the diplomatic tour was the UAE-Paraguay Business Forum. This flagship assembly brought together industrial titans and digital innovators to analyze untapped opportunities in priority, value-added fields. Delegates focused heavily on tech deployment, digital infrastructure, renewable energy, logistics networks, deep-sea mining, healthcare, and financial services, proving that the future of global supply chains relies on deep-seated cross-border partnerships.
Capitalizing on the Momentum of Non-Oil Trade
The statistical foundation backing this bilateral push is already breaking regional records. Non-oil trade between the UAE and Paraguay skyrocketed to an impressive $249.2 million in 2025, representing a spectacular 53.8 percent increase compared to 2024. This aggressive growth trajectory highlights the surging confidence pulsing through both business communities.
Emphasizing the strategic long-term vision of this South American push, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi remarked:
“Paraguay is an important economic partner for the UAE in South America and offers significant opportunities to expand cooperation in sectors that support economic diversification… We look forward to taking our economic relations with Paraguay and the Mercosur countries to more advanced levels that support the Sustainable Development Goals, strengthen supply chain resilience and reinforce the UAE’s position as a global bridge for trade and investment between East and West.”
Activating the Private Sector for Food Security
Paraguayan leadership is equally enthusiastic about transforming these high-level dialogues into brick-and-mortar realities. Minister of Industry and Commerce Marco Riquelme explicitly highlighted food security and specialized manufacturing as the ultimate pillars for immediate capital deployment.
Reflecting on the commercial architecture being built under the guidance of President Santiago Peña, Riquelme stated:
“Economic relations with the UAE are witnessing rapid growth, translating into tangible projects and investments… Governments provide the enabling environment and the private sector plays the leading role in turning opportunities into concrete achievements.”
This high-profile visit integrates directly into the Emirates’ ambitious Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) agenda. By consistently dismantling trade barriers and creating highly sophisticated investment corridors, the UAE is successfully solidifying its position as an irreplaceable global hub that seamlessly connects Western markets with Eastern opportunities.
