Santiago, Mar 29 (EFE).— The upcoming Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors, scheduled for March 2026 in Asunción, will be a key opportunity for Paraguay to present its potential on the international stage, Finance and Economy Minister Carlos Fernández Valdovinos told EFE on Sunday.
“It will be a great opportunity to host representatives from more than 48 countries—around 3,000 people—and to show what Paraguay is today and all the potential it has,” said the minister.
Macroeconomic Strengths and Growth Outlook
Fernández Valdovinos emphasized that Paraguay boasts the strongest macroeconomic indicators in South America, both in terms of economic growth and social inclusion. He added that the country is positioned to be a model for sustainable economic and social development.
In 2024, Paraguay’s economy grew by 4.2%, outperforming the Central Bank’s 4% projection. The 2025 outlook remains strong, with expected GDP growth of 3.8%.
Inflation remained under control, closing 2024 at 3.8%, while monetary poverty fell to 20.1%, its lowest level since the current methodology was introduced, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE).
An Opportunity to Reintroduce Paraguay
“We want everyone attending the Assembly to see Paraguay’s style,” said Fernández Valdovinos from Santiago, where the 2024 IDB Annual Meeting took place from Wednesday through Sunday.
The 2026 event will mark the third time Paraguay has hosted the IDB Board of Governors, a gathering that includes finance and economy ministers and senior officials from the bank’s 48 member countries.
Held in parallel, the IDB Invest Board of Governors meeting will also take place in Asunción. IDB Invest is the private-sector arm of the IDB, responsible for 44% of the bank’s operations across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Global Outlook and Long-Term Integration
“Paraguay has an open economy. It is, by nature, outward-looking and integration-minded, and we’re going to continue pushing to remain integrated with the world—especially in these turbulent times,” said the minister, who previously served as Central Bank governor (2013–2018).
Founded in 1959, the Inter-American Development Bank is one of the region’s leading sources of long-term financing for economic, social, and institutional development. The IDB’s three largest shareholders are the United States, Argentina, and Brazil.
The bank currently provides $25 billion annually in financing and aims to increase this to $38 billion per year by 2030, reinforcing its role as a catalyst for regional development. EFE