Goulash so goulash: Paraguay intends to increase meat exports to Russia

Paraguay wants to restore meat exports to Russia, the embassy of the Latin American country in Moscow told Izvestia. Revenues from the supply of these products to Russia have fallen sixfold in 10 years, reaching a historic low of $95 million. At the same time, back in 2023, the country was one of the three largest meat importers in the Russian Federation. To strengthen Paraguay's position in the Russian market, the country's sanitary service will visit Russia in the near future. Business representatives are expected to accompany her. The prospects for cooperation with Asuncion and other players in the region against the background of the normalization of the political dialogue between Moscow and Washington are described in the Izvestia article.

Paraguay intends to restore meat exports to Russia

The dialogue between Moscow and Washington has given hope to many companies to regain their positions in the Russian market. For example, Paraguayan meat producers hope to return to the Russian market. The industry hopes to restore the once high export volumes.

For three years (from 2012 to 2014), meat exports to Russia brought Paraguay more than $500 million annually. The country managed to achieve a record high income in 2014, when revenue amounted to more than $580 million, such data was provided to Izvestia at the embassy of the South American state in Moscow. Then the income dropped slightly, but still remained significant. In 2020, the Russian market accounted for one fifth of all Paraguayan meat exports. Before the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, in 2021, Paraguay supplied $335 million worth of meat to Russia. Since then, revenues have started to fall sharply, reaching a record low in 2024 of $95.8 million, which is six times less than in 2014.

In February last year, Paraguayan President Santiago Pena stated that the economic sanctions imposed on Russia since the beginning of its Second World War had a strong impact on trade between the countries.

— In recent years, there has been a decline in the export of Paraguayan meat to the Russian Federation. The reasons lie in several factors: among them are difficulties with making payments via international bank transfers and other technical reasons, which we are working to eliminate. Nevertheless, you can find Paraguayan meat in some supermarkets. It is of very high quality and is highly appreciated by gourmets all over the world, even more than the products of other traditional manufacturers, " the Embassy of Paraguay in the Russian Federation told Izvestia.

The plan is edible: Russia set a record for meat exports

By 2030, Agroexport estimates that domestic exports will be able to cross the $3.6 billion mark

In general, the prospect of easing or even lifting anti-Russian sanctions against the background of negotiations between the Russian Federation and the United States may inspire other countries in the region to increase cooperation. So, in a conversation with Izvestia, Ecuador's ambassador to the Russian Federation, Juan Fernando Holguin Flores, said that he was expecting a delegation from AvtoVAZ in March in order to resume deliveries of Russian cars to the Latin American country. The warming of relations between Russia and the United States is also being closely monitored in Argentina, confirms Ambassador Dmitry Feoktistov.

— The government of Javier Miley demonstrates that it makes a choice in favor of peace, and not empty slogans condemning our country. This step corresponds to the line of the current US administration and at the same time meets our interests," he said in an interview with Izvestia.

Prospects for economic and political cooperation with Paraguay

Restrictions on Russia have certainly had a negative impact on economic cooperation with Paraguay. However, this did not affect relations between Moscow and Asuncion.

— Relations between Russia and Paraguay have always been and remain excellent. The Foreign Ministries of both countries are in constant contact to resolve any differences in foreign policy. We continue to work in such fields as culture, education, and science. Russia has a professional diplomatic corps of the highest level, with whom we are very comfortable working on a daily basis," the embassy of the Latin American country said.

In the near future, a delegation of the Paraguayan Sanitary Service (SENACSA) will travel to Russia to explore opportunities for strengthening cooperation between the two countries, the embassy said. She is responsible for certifying the general health of livestock whose meat is intended for export. Paraguayan businessmen may also arrive with SENACSA representatives.

In addition, Paraguay is a good place for Russian investments, according to the embassy of the Latin American country. Deepening cooperation will open the way for Moscow to other countries in the region, with which cooperation has not yet been established so closely.

— We are also watching the Russian industry very closely, and we want to encourage entrepreneurs to invest in Paraguay. Our country has many advantages in terms of its strategic position in South America, large fleet, low taxes and the ability to export to other MERCOSUR countries," the diplomatic mission said.

Infrastructure projects in Paraguay, as well as technologies for using peaceful nuclear energy, are promising, Nadezhda Kudeyarova, head of the ILA RAS Center for Political Studies, tells Izvestia.

In 2017, the countries signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy, including in nuclear medicine and radiation technologies. It is mainly about safety, including the control of nuclear materials and waste.

In addition, according to the expert, education remains an important area of cooperation. Paraguayan students are interested in studying at Russian universities, even though this is not the country in Latin America from which the largest number of foreign students come.