The government launches a historic 'Plan 1000' to pave 1,000 kilometers in all the country's departments.

Statement from the Public Works and Communications Ministry of Paraguay

This press release was published in English using an automatic translation system

The Government of Paraguay officially presented an unprecedented initiative that will transform the country's urban road infrastructure through a strategic agreement between the Ministry of Public Works and Communications ( MOPC ) and Itaipu Binacional . This project promises to generate approximately 10,000 direct and indirect jobs during its implementation, boosting the local economy.

At a ceremony held at the Government Palace, President Santiago Peña, accompanied by the Minister of Public Works, Claudia Centurión, and the Paraguayan General Director of Itaipu, Justo Zacarías Irún, provided details of the ambitious plan, which will require an investment of USD 100 million and benefit all 17 departments across the country.

"These 1,000 kilometers represent much more than just the USD 100 million invested. This is a targeted measure aimed at the most vulnerable districts, where basic infrastructure development is urgently needed," the Chief Executive emphasized during his speech.

Peña highlighted the project's social component: "We have prioritized local contracting, local labor, and local companies. This will also provide a boost to the small and medium-sized business segment, which is often excluded from major national bidding processes."

Teamwork and technical innovation

Minister Centurión emphasized that this plan is the result of intense collaborative work. “It is a great honor to be part of this project, which reflects various aspects that the President of the Republic presented to us as a challenge. President Peña Nieto asked us to understand the real needs of citizens and, based on that, design and implement priority projects,” she stated.

An innovative aspect of the program, the minister explained, is the revival of traditional construction techniques combined with modern methods. "Our 1,000-kilometer program will reintroduce, after many years, the technique of paving and cobbling, complementing it with the use of concrete to pave our neighborhoods," she stated.

The Secretary of State emphasized that the initiative is "specifically designed to strengthen small and medium-sized Paraguayan businesses" and revealed that they have "strategically divided the country into seven operational regions" after an exhaustive tour of the country, during which they held meetings with all the governors and mayors of the Republic.

"With this project, we will not only transform urban infrastructure, but we will also create thousands of jobs, strengthen local businesses, and continue to adjust the plan as specific needs arise in the 270 beneficiary municipalities," he emphasized.

Implementation and financing

For his part, Itaipu director Justo Zacarías Irún provided technical details of the project: "There will be 1,000 kilometers distributed equally across the different districts of Paraguay, with one-third of the paving using stone and cobblestone techniques, while two-thirds will be built with rigid paving, on cobblestones, or direct paving, including asphalt and concrete." Zacarías added that "in a matter of days, we will see thousands of Paraguayans laying cobblestones and bringing their daily sustenance to their homes."

The director of the binational organization highlighted the significance of the recent renegotiation of Annex C of the Itaipu Treaty, led by President Peña Nieto: "This diplomatic milestone has made it possible for us to have, in just three years, resources equivalent to those we have had over the past two decades, allowing us to accelerate the country's development." According to his estimates, several work fronts will begin operating immediately.

This ambitious infrastructure plan seeks to create fast and safe road connections in strategic neighborhoods, improving accessibility in urban and peri-urban areas. It will be implemented in close coordination with departmental and municipal governments to address the specific needs of each district, constituting a fundamental step toward the comprehensive modernization of Paraguayan cities and the reduction of territorial inequalities.