On May 10, what the authorities called the “event of the half-century” took place: the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the second bridge over the Paraná River between Paraguay and Brazil. This work will increase the competitiveness of the maquiladora industries in the area, considering that 87 of the 179 maquiladora industries operate in Alto Paraná and 75% of their production is moved by land.

This sector employs 6,654 people and records an export above USD 200 million, with the potential to continue growing. In fact, exports for the month of April 2019 amount to USD 66,584,258, which is 10% more than the same period last year.

The day before, the II Meeting of Maquiladores in Alto Paraná was held, in which the advantages that the construction of the bridge will bring to the industry were discussed. Among them, it is estimated that when the bridge is inaugurated -in three years- it will considerably increase not only commerce but also the tourist and hotel offer, transforming the zone into an industrial area and improving the quality of life of the people.

The authorities added that, by October, the operational processes related to the maquila will be automated to provide better service, control and work for dispatchers. All of this is aimed at digitizing processes, saving time and money.