In brief
Paraguay is striving to transform its image from a country with limited technological focus to a burgeoning tech hub in South America. Gabriela Cibils, a tech entrepreneur, leads efforts to attract foreign tech giants by leveraging the country's abundant, cheap, green energy from hydroelectric sources like the Itaipu Dam. The movement is supported by government initiatives to create a digital ecosystem and train a skilled workforce, despite bureaucratic challenges. Paraguay's youthful demographic and interests in sustainable energy may enhance its appeal to tech investors.
Gabriela Cibils is on a mission – to help turn Paraguay into the Silicon Valley of South America.
When she was growing up in the landlocked country, nestled between Brazil and Argentina, she says the nation 'wasn't super tech focused'.
But it was different for Ms. Cibils, as her parents worked in the technology sector. Inspired by this background, she studied in the US, obtaining a degree in computing and neuroscience from the University of California, Berkeley.
After eight years working in Silicon Valley, Cibils returned to Paraguay with a vision: to build a successful tech sector that can attract global giants and place the country firmly on the tech map.
“I saw firsthand the impact that technology can have on your life,” Ms. Cibils noted, advocating for combining her Silicon Valley experience with local talent.
Now part of Cibersons, a global technology and investment firm based in Asunción, she emphasizes Paraguay's significant advantage: an abundance of cheap, green electricity, primarily from hydroelectric power.
The Itaipu Dam, located on the Paraná River at the Paraguay-Brazil border, supplies 90% of Paraguay's electricity and maintains the country's status as the largest exporter of clean energy worldwide.
With the demand for energy-intensive technologies like AI rising, Paraguayan officials believe the country's low electricity costs and reliability make it an attractive destination for tech companies.
Efforts are underway to develop a new digital park projected to be a hub for tech innovation, aided by collaborations across the public and private sectors.
However, as the government works to attract investors, challenges such as bureaucratic hurdles remain a consideration for potential foreign operations.
Despite these issues, optimism runs high. Local leaders believe focused efforts on education, particularly among young people and women in tech, will strengthen Paraguay's position in the global tech landscape.
If the trajectory remains steady, Paraguay aims not just to participate in the tech narrative but to emerge as a significant player on the global stage.
