Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy visits Paraguay during Latin America and Caribbean tour

A senior UAE delegation, led by Her Excellency Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, visited Paraguay on 13 June 2023. During the visit, HE Al Hashimy met President-elect His Excellency Santiago Peña, alongside imminent officials to discuss his new plans after taking office in August 2023.  
 
HE President-elect Peña hosted a breakfast in honor of the Emirati officials, where the delegation met with relevant counterparts. The breakfast was attended by various UAE companies such as Mubadala, ADIA, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), Masdar, Elite Agro, ADNOC Trading, representatives from COP28, DP World,  and the UAE Ministry of Economy.
 
The UAE-Paraguay Business Roundtable was held at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, where the delegation met Paraguayan Minister of Industry and Commerce His Excellency Luis Alberto Castiglioni. HE Al Hashimy’s opening remarks stated “This Business Forum serves as yet another testament to the strength of our bilateral relations, as both governments share political will, commitment, and successful endeavors towards further elevating our ties. She also highlighted that last year, trade has increased with Paraguay by 53%, implying a unique opportunity for growth. In addition, all legislative agreements are in place and ratified to further encourage investment.”
 
The delegation met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Julio Cesar Arriola Ramírez to discuss enhancing bilateral relations between the UAE and Paraguay. HE Al Hashimy received the Paraguayan National Order of Merit. HE Ramirez highlighted several times the speedy contribution of both vaccines as well as medical supplies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
In addition, His Excellency President Mario Abdo Benitez hosted a luncheon at the presidential palace in honor of the delegation, which was attended by HE Ramírez, HE Castiglioni, HE Oscar Diaz, Minister of Finance, HE Moisés Santiago Bertoni, Minister of Agriculture, Sustainable Development, HE Jose Avila, Ambassador of Paraguay to the UAE, and HE Saeed Abdullah Al Qamzi, UAE Ambassador to the Argentine Republic and Non-Resident Ambassador to the Republic of Paraguay. The delegation also met with HE Oscar Salomon, President of the Senate of Paraguay as well as the Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee HE Lilian Samaniego, where HE Al Hashimy expressed the UAE’s appreciation of the position of the people of Paraguay in responding to UAE interests and priorities.
 
Furthermore, a Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation and a Memorandum of Understanding for Diplomatic Training was signed by HE Al Hashimy and HE Julio Cesar Arriola Ramírez during the visit. The memorandum provides for the exchange of academic expertise between the two parties in organizing programs of common interest, exchanging knowledge, and cooperation to attract international speakers and organizing joint conferences and workshops.
 
Alejandro Domínguez, CONMEBOL President, and Her Excellency Leila Rachid de Cowles, Former Foreign Minister of Paraguay, received HE Al Hashimy and the UAE delegation at the South American football association (CONMEBOL), the oldest continental football association in the world.