Paraguay gears up for the 2024 National Rural Investment Forum under FAO's Hand-in-Hand Initiative

17.07.2024

Paraguay is preparing to host the much-anticipated 2024 National Rural Investment Forum organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). With robust support from both public and private sectors, this forum promises to be a landmark event in the country's agricultural calendar. It will take place on Friday 19 July in the Germán Ruíz hall of the Rural Association of Paraguay (ARP), as part of the Expo Mariano Roque Alonso.

The 2024 National Rural Investment Forum will be conducted under the auspices of the FAO's Hand-in-Hand (HIH) Initiative, in which Paraguay has actively participated in since 2022. This country-led initiative aims to foster international cooperation and investment to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. Its overarching goals are to reduce poverty, improve food security, and promote sustainable development in rural areas of developing countries. 

The forum's primary goal is to create a dynamic platform for dialogue and strategic coordination among various economic stakeholders. Utilizing the HIH methodology, the event aims to focus and prioritize investments in Paraguay's agricultural and forestry sectors. Attendees will gain insights into the latest progress in implementing this methodology and its role in strengthening the country's investment policies and strategies.

Supported by notable organizations, including the Development Finance Agency (AFD), the World Bank (WB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the ARP, the Union of Production Guilds (UGP), and the Federation of Production Cooperations (FECOPROD), the forum aims to forge strong partnerships and commitments. These collaborations will help mobilize investments across Paraguay, driving agricultural transformation, economic growth, and efforts to combat poverty, hunger, and malnutrition while reducing inequalities.

Opportunities for investment

Participants will explore investment opportunities within the agricultural and forestry value chains, examining how a systemic and integrative approach can support investments in selected sectors and territories. The forum will also seek to identify new and innovative avenues for financing, co-financing, and resource complementarity, leveraging contributions from public, private, donor, and cooperative sources.

FAO's Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum 

In October 2023, Paraguay participated in the second edition of the HIH Investment Forum in Rome, Italy, showcasing investment plans in the dairy and banana sectors. The country is now preparing for this year’s Forum, which will again take place in Rome from October 15 to 17. This time, the Paraguayan Government and private sector will present three investment proposals focused on the dairy, banana, and aquaculture value chains, with aquaculture being a newly prioritized sector for the country. The investment plans were developed through a strong alliance between the public and private sectors, utilizing the HIH methodology for technical support.