Paraguay advances with digital agenda

Paraguay's ICT ministry (Mitic) last week opened a support line to identify and co-finance digital transformation projects in the public and private sectors.

The call is part of the country’s digital agenda which aims to boost investment in ICT through support for young people, entrepreneurs and companies.

For 2022, a disbursement of US$4.7mn is expected for all the programs of this component, much higher than the US$99,850 forecast for 2021 and the US$7,562 disbursed in 2020 for this objective. 

Paraguay's digital agenda is supported by the IDB with US$130mn in funds.

Recently, an analyst warned about the lack of execution of the IDB loan and problems in carrying out ICT plans in Paraguay.

The telecommunications support plan foresees that this year investment in the digital agenda will begin to increase rapidly, with total amounts forecast at US$23.0mn in 2022, US$50.1mn in 2023 and US$36.7mn in 2024 compared to the US$6.7mn disbursed in 2021 and US$1.5mn in 2020.

In parallel, regulator Conatel approved the telecommunications development plan that aims to increase broadband coverage to 80% of the population by 2030.

The Mintic funding may finance the hiring of human resources, help with the purchase of capital goods, technology services, training, in addition to maintenance and the purchase of intangible assets, supplies and transport expenses.