Paraguay – the Silicon Valley of South America?

[ad_1] Jane Chambers Enterprise reporter, Asunción, Paraguay

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/7e5a/live/0a198ff0-986d-11f0-8ac5-61a603230ddd.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/7e5a/live/0a198ff0-986d-11f0-8ac5-61a603230ddd.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7e5a/live/0a198ff0-986d-11f0-8ac5-61a603230ddd.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/7e5a/live/0a198ff0-986d-11f0-8ac5-61a603230ddd.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/7e5a/live/0a198ff0-986d-11f0-8ac5-61a603230ddd.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/7e5a/live/0a198ff0-986d-11f0-8ac5-61a603230ddd.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/7e5a/live/0a198ff0-986d-11f0-8ac5-61a603230ddd.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7e5a/live/0a198ff0-986d-11f0-8ac5-61a603230ddd.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Gabriela Cibils Paraguayan tech boss Gabriela Cibils smiles at the camera" class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> Gabriela Cibils Gabriela Cibils desires to assist Paraguay entice huge tech from the US and elsewhere

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

When she was rising up within the landlocked nation, nestled between Brazil and Argentina, she says the nation "wasn't tremendous tech centered".

Nevertheless it was completely different for Ms Cibils, as her dad and mom labored within the know-how sector. And she or he was impressed to review within the US, the place she acquired a level in computing and neuroscience from the College of California, Berkeley.

After graduating she spent eight years working in Silicon Valley, close to San Francisco, with roles at varied American start-ups.

However moderately than staying completely within the US, a number of years in the past she determined to return residence to Paraguay. She's now serving to to guide efforts to construct a big and profitable tech sector that places the nation of seven million folks on the world map - and entice a few of the globe's tech giants.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/d3b6/live/3c7fd240-9879-11f0-af33-49fc1d1f447a.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/d3b6/live/3c7fd240-9879-11f0-af33-49fc1d1f447a.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d3b6/live/3c7fd240-9879-11f0-af33-49fc1d1f447a.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/d3b6/live/3c7fd240-9879-11f0-af33-49fc1d1f447a.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/d3b6/live/3c7fd240-9879-11f0-af33-49fc1d1f447a.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/d3b6/live/3c7fd240-9879-11f0-af33-49fc1d1f447a.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/d3b6/live/3c7fd240-9879-11f0-af33-49fc1d1f447a.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d3b6/live/3c7fd240-9879-11f0-af33-49fc1d1f447a.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="AFP via Getty Images Water gushing out of the giant Itaipu Dam on the Paraná River between Paraguay and Brazil" class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> AFP through Getty Photographs The enormous Itaipu Dam produces 90% of Paraguay's electrical energy wants

"I noticed first hand the influence that know-how can have in your life," says Ms Cibils. "After being uncovered to such a unique world [in Silicon Valley], it is my accountability to convey that mindset again and mix it with the expertise I see in Paraguay."

She is now a accomplice at world know-how and funding agency Cibersons, whose headquarters is in Paraguay's capital Asunción.

Whereas most international locations would like to construct a world-class tech sector, Paraguay has a definite benefit in a single regard – an abundance of low-cost, inexperienced electrical energy.

That is because of 100% of its technology now coming from hydroelectric energy.

That is centred on the enormous Itaipu Dam on the Paraná River, which varieties a part of the border between Paraguay and Brazil. This big hydroelectric energy station, the biggest on this planet outdoors of China, provides 90% of Paraguay's electrical energy wants, and 10% of Brazil's.

Actually, such is Paraguay's surplus of electrical energy that its electrical energy costs are the bottom in South America.

And it's the world's largest exporter of fresh power.

The Paraguayan authorities hopes that the nation's abundance of low-cost, inexperienced electrical energy will entice world tech companies more and more centered on the large power calls for of AI computing.

"If you wish to set up any know-how funding like AI information centres, be mindful hydroelectric energy is each renewable and regular," says Paraguayan software program growth entrepreneur Sebastian Ortiz-Chamorro.

"In comparison with different renewable power sources like wind or photo voltaic, which have their ups and downs, it is way more enticing for creating information centres or some other electro intensive exercise that requires a gradual electrical energy supply."

He provides that along with Itaipu, and Paraguay's different massive state-owned hydroelectric plant, the Yacyretá Dam, non-public firms can simply construct their very own smaller amenities.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/89de/live/a3fa46b0-a5b4-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/89de/live/a3fa46b0-a5b4-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/89de/live/a3fa46b0-a5b4-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/89de/live/a3fa46b0-a5b4-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/89de/live/a3fa46b0-a5b4-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/89de/live/a3fa46b0-a5b4-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/89de/live/a3fa46b0-a5b4-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/89de/live/a3fa46b0-a5b4-11f0-b741-177e3e2c2fc7.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="A map showing the location of Paraguay's two main hydroelectric dams" class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> On a go to to California final 12 months Paraguay's President Santiago Peña spoke with firms like Google and OpenAI to encourage them to spend money on Paraguay. It stays to be seen if such business giants open massive operations within the nation.

Minister of Know-how and Communication Gustavo Villate is working carefully with the president on the persevering with efforts.

"We've got the youngest inhabitants. We've got quite a lot of renewable inexperienced power. We've got low taxes and financial stability," he says proudly.

I am taken on a tour with the minister of a deliberate new digital park close to Asunción's primary airport. It is at present inexperienced fields and a few military barracks.

Mr Villate unfurls plans to indicate off the lakes, a childcare centre and different buildings which he says must be prepared in underneath two years.

"The federal government are going to speculate round $20m (£15m) for the primary stage, however the concept is for personal firms to speculate the remainder," he says.

Despite the fact that the park is not prepared but, Mr Villate says the collaboration already occurring between the general public, non-public and college sectors is essential to constructing an ecosystem to draw overseas buyers.

The federal government thinks the nation's younger inhabitants can be a key attraction, and in a position to present a big tech workforce. The typical age in Paraguay is 27.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/5356/live/cd8585f0-9879-11f0-af33-49fc1d1f447a.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/5356/live/cd8585f0-9879-11f0-af33-49fc1d1f447a.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5356/live/cd8585f0-9879-11f0-af33-49fc1d1f447a.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/5356/live/cd8585f0-9879-11f0-af33-49fc1d1f447a.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/5356/live/cd8585f0-9879-11f0-af33-49fc1d1f447a.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/5356/live/cd8585f0-9879-11f0-af33-49fc1d1f447a.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/5356/live/cd8585f0-9879-11f0-af33-49fc1d1f447a.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5356/live/cd8585f0-9879-11f0-af33-49fc1d1f447a.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Vanessa Cañete Vanessa Cañete looks at the camera" class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> Vanessa Cañete Vanessa Cañete says Paraguay is working exhausting to coach extra younger folks in know-how

However extra younger folks will should be educated. The know-how minister says the brand new digital park may even be residence to The College of Know-how, which is a three way partnership between Taiwan and Paraguay.

In the meantime, there are different initiatives to coach younger folks within the nation. "We're working actually exhausting to create a mass of software program engineers, programmers and every part you must present software program companies," says Vanessa Cañete, president of commerce group Paraguayan Chamber of the Software program Business.

Ms Cañete says she can be enthusiastic about encouraging extra girls to review pc engineering. In 2017 she arrange Ladies Code, a non-profit affiliation which goals to shut the tech gender hole.

It organises programming and robotics workshops for youngsters and younger girls, with greater than 1,000 receiving some form of coaching up to now.

Ms Cañete provides that software program builders are additionally given English classes for as much as 4 years to enhance their communication with abroad companies.

The folks I met are brimming with positivity about what Paraguay has to supply the tech world, however they're additionally pragmatic.

Ms Cibils says there are nonetheless "rising pains" for overseas buyers, with points like paperwork, which might maintain issues up adapting native contracts to standardised worldwide ones.

However she is adamant that "should you put innovation at its core and leverage all the advantages that the nation has I believe Paraguay is usually a superpower".