paraguay
The two nations pledged to work collectively against the menace of terrorism. “The
leadership of Paraguay said that they are on the same page as India as far as the
issue of terrorism is concerned and extended heartfelt condolences to those who had
lost their loved ones in the Pulwama terror attack. They stated that India could always
count on Paraguay´s support in the fi ght against terrorism and in voicing India’s
concerns on terrorism in the international fora.”
As the world battles climate change, India has made
ambitious plans to incorporate renewable energy into its
energy mix. The government has set a target of installing
100 GW of solar capacity by 2022 in the country. A target
of installing 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by the
year 2022 has been set, which includes 100 GW from solar,
60 GW from wind, 10 GW from bio-power and 5 GW
from small hydro-power. 4 In this solar and wind energy are
forming the main bulwark of India’s renewable energy drive.
Paraguay established renewable energy target in its National
Development Plan 2014–2030. The country’s goal is to reach
60 percent of renewable energy consumption in total energy
consumption by 2030. Additionally, Paraguay aims to reduce
by 20 percent consumption of fossil fuels in the country’s
total energy consumption by the same year. 5 India, as part of
the International Solar Alliance, is working with like-minded
nations to collectively address key common challenges to
the scaling up of solar energy. Paraguay has agreed to join
the alliance providing another platform for promotion of
investment and exchange of R&D. Paraguay has replaced all
thermal power by hydropower in the 1970s. Now the country
entirely relies on two hydroelectric plants for electricity.
Collaboration in hydroelectric power generation would be
one example of cooperation between the two as India along
with its neighbours is setting up hydroelectricity plants and
developing an energy exchange region.
In the international arena, the two nations have similar
views on addressing the issue of terrorism. Throughout the
Delegation Level Talks during the Vice President’s visit, the
Paraguayan leadership decried the brutal terrorist attack that
took place in Pulwama. The two nations pledged to work
collectively against the menace of terrorism. “The leadership
of Paraguay said that they are on the same page as India as far
as the issue of terrorism is concerned and extended heartfelt
condolences to those who had lost their loved ones in the
Pulwama terror attack. They stated that India could always
count on Paraguay´s support in the fi ght against terrorism and in
voicing India’s concerns on terrorism in the international fora.” 6
The above are but a few areas of cooperation between
India and Paraguay. They provide with new areas of
engagement and deepening of South-South Cooperation.
India and Paraguay face many similar internal developmental
challenges. These include high-income inequality, rising
18 • PARAGUAY 2019
population, unemployment and poor public health and
education systems. They have a lot to learn from each
other by engaging in similar work to isolate and scale up
best practices in each of these sectors. The India economy
has seen steady growth and it is predicted that, despite the
slowdown, it will be one of the largest economies in the
next two decades. The physical distance between India
and Paraguay is no longer a barrier. Trade and investments
have been growing well. Political exchanges have brought
the relations into the spotlight; it is the right time to further
cement them with a thriving people to people network. There
are complementarities between India and Paraguay that need
to be exploited to build a robust relationship for the future.
* Author is a Research Fellow, Indian Council of World
Aff airs, New Delhi. Views expressed are personal.
References:
1
Huma Siddiqui, “ LatAm outreach: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu
to visit Paraguay, Costa Rica; here’s why it’s important,” https://www.
financialexpress.com/defence/latam-outreach-vice-president-venkaiah-
naidu-to-visit-paraguay-costa-rica-heres-why-its-important/1504471/,
Accessed on 02 May 2019.
2
Ines Martinez Valinotti, “Paraguay: For investment and renewable
energy,” http://diplomatonline.com/mag/2018/07/paraguay-for-investment-
and-renewable-energy/, Accessed on 02 May 2019.
3
Ministry of External Aff airs, Government of India, “Joint Press Release
on the visit of the Vice President of India to Paraguay,” https://www.mea.gov.
in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/31120/Joint_Press_Release_on_the_visit_
of_the_Vice_President_of_India_to_Paraguay, Accessed on 02 May 2019.
4
Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy, “A target of installing 175 GW of renewable energy
capacity by the year 2022 has been set. 100 GW of solar capacity by 2022 in
the country. The Government is promoting development of solar energy in the
country by providing various fi scal and promotional incentives,” http://pib.
nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=180728, Accessed on 03 May 2019.
5
International Energy Agency, “Paraguay’s National Development
Plan 2014-2030,” https://www.iea.org/policiesandmeasures/pams/para-
guay/name-157639-en.php?s=dHlwZT1yZSZzdGF0dXM9T2s,&return=P
G5hdiBpZD0iYnJlYWRjcnVtYiI PGEgaHJlZj0iLyI-SG9tZTwvYT4gJnJh-
cXVvOyA8YSBocmVmPSIvcG9saWNpZXNhbmRtZWFzdXJlcy8iPlBvb-
GljaWVzIGFuZCBNZWFzdXJlczwvYT4gJnJhcXVvOyA8YSBocmVmP-
SIvcG9saWNpZXNhbmRtZWFzdXJlcy9yZW5ld2FibGVlbmVyZ3kvIj5S-
ZW5ld2FibGUgRW5lcmd5PC9hPjwvbmF2Pg, Accessed on 03 May 2019.
6
Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Vice President’s
Secretariat, “Paraguay is an important partner of India in the Latin
American and Caribbean region: Vice President,” http://pib.nic.in/newsite/
PrintRelease.aspx?relid=189232, ,Accessed on 02 May 2019.