Paraguay's president-elect wants to build bridges with Brazil

Paraguay's president-elect Mario Abdo Benítez (pictured) is proposing the construction of four new road bridges to link the country with Brazil.

"It is unacceptable that we have only one bridge between Paraguay and Brazil," said Benítez after a meeting with Brazil's President Michel Temer in Brasília. The only bridge between Paraguay and Brazil was built 53 years ago and is known as the Bridge of Friendship.

The Brazilian government seeks to include in next year's budget a new bridge between Foz do Iguaçu city and Paraguay's Presidente Franco at a cost of 233mn reais (US$62.8mn), according to Folha de S. Paulo newspaper.

Plans for new bridges between the two countries are not new, and were first proposed last decade.

In recent years, Brazilian companies have started to set up operations in Paraguay, attracted by the low tax, labor and electric power costs.

Benítez takes office in August after winning April's presidential election.