Paraguay – Silicon Valley of South America?

Gabriela Cibils is on a mission – to help turn Paraguay into the Silicon Valley of South America.

When she grew up in an unforgettable country nestled between Brazil and Argentina, she says the nation “was not focused on super technology.”

But for the cibils, it was different as her parents worked in the technology sector. And she was inspired to study in the United States, where she received a specialty computer and neuroscience from the University of California, Berkeley.

After graduating eight years, working in the Silicon Valley, near San Francisco, with roles in various US start -ups.

But instead of staying in the United States constantly, a few years ago she decided to return home to Paraguay. Now it helps to make efforts to build a large and successful technology sector, which puts the country of seven million people on the world map – and attracts some of the technology giants of Globe.

“I saw first -hand the impact that technology can have on your life,” says G -ja Cibils. “After being exposed to such a different world (in the Silicon Valley), I am responsible to return this way of thinking and combine it with the talent I see in Paraguay.”

She is now a partner at Global Technology and Investment Compan Cibersons, whose headquarters is in the capital of Paraguay Asunción.

While most countries would like to build a world-class technological sector, Paraguay has a clear advantage in one respect-cheap, green electricity.

This is thanks to 100% of its generation that now comes from Hydroelectric power.

This is focused on the giant Itaipu dam on the Parana River, which is part of the border between Paraguay and Brazil. This huge hydroelectric power plant, The largest in the world outside China, It delivers 90% of the needs of Paraguay’s electricity and 10% of Brazil.

In fact, this is the excess of Paraguay’s electricity that its electricity prices are Lowest in South America.

And this is the world The largest exporter of clean energy.

The Paraguay Government hopes that the abundance of cheap, green electricity of the country will attract global technology companies, more and more focused on the huge energy needs of AI calculations.

“If you want to install any technological investment such as AI data centers, keep in mind that hydroelectric energy is both renewable and stable,” says Paraguayan Software Development Sebastian Ortiz-Chamorro.

“Compared to other renewable energy sources such as wind or solar energy that have their ups and falls, it is much more attractive to create data centers or any other electrical intensive activity that requires a constant source of electricity.”

He adds that, in addition to ITAIPU and other large state hydroelectric power plants of Paraguay, Yacyretá Dam, private companies can easily build their own smaller facilities.

On a visit to California last year President Paraguay Santiago Penja talks to companies like Google and Openai Encourage them to invest in Paraguay. It remains to be seen if such giants in the industry are opening major operations in the country.

The Minister of Technology and Communication Gustavo Wilsing is working closely with the president on continuous efforts.

“We have the most junior population. We have a lot of renewable green energy. We have low taxes and economic stability,” he says proudly.

I took me on a tour with the Minister of a planned new digital park near the main Asuncion Airport. Currently, these are green fields and some army barracks.

Villate Unfurls plans to show the lakes, a center for the upbringing of children and other buildings, which, according to him, should be ready for less than two years.

“The government will invest about $ 20 million (£ 15 million) for the first stage, but the idea is for private companies to invest the rest,” he says.

Although the park is not yet ready, Villate says that the cooperation already happening between the public, the private and university sectors is crucial for the construction of an ecosystem to attract foreign investors.

The government believes that the young population of the country will be a key attraction and will be able to provide a great technological workforce. The average age in Paraguay is 27.

But more young people will have to be trained. The Minister of Technology says the new digital park will also be home to the University of Technology, which is a joint venture between Taiwan and Paraguay.

In the meantime, there are other initiatives to train young people in the country. “We are working very hard to create a mass of software engineers, programmers and everything you need to provide software services,” says Vanessa Cañete, President of the Trade Group Paraguayan Chamber of the Software Industry.

D -Ja Cañete says she is also passionate about encouraging more women to study computer engineering. In 2017, it created Girls Code, a non -profit association that aims to close the technological gender difference.

He organizes seminars for programming and robotics for teens and young women, with over 1000 receiving some training so far.

Cañete adds that software developers also receive English lessons for up to four years to improve their communication with overseas companies.

The people I met are full of positivity for what Paraguay has to offer to the technological world, but they are also pragmatic.

Cibils says there are still “growing pains” for foreign investors, with questions such as bureaucracy that can support things that adapt local contracts to standardized international.

But she is adamant that “if you put the innovation at the base and take advantage of all the benefits that the country has, I think Paraguay can be superpower.”