Paraguay is seeking to strengthen trade, investment, and diplomatic ties with the Philippines and the broader Southeast Asian region, President Santiago Peña said Monday during the signing of key bilateral agreements.
Peña, the first Paraguayan leader to visit the Philippines, welcomed Manila’s decision to allow imports of Paraguayan beef, pork, and poultry, a policy that took effect in August 2025 and already enabled the first shipments of meat products to the country. He called the move a major milestone in expanding Paraguay’s presence in one of Asia’s fastest-growing consumer markets.
Beyond meat, Peña highlighted opportunities to boost exports of grains, maize, oilseeds, and other agro-industrial products to support Philippine food security.
He also pointed to Paraguay’s competitive maquila industry, investor incentives, and growing logistics network via the Bioceanic Corridor, positioning the country as a strategic bridge between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
On the diplomatic front, Peña noted the convergence of Paraguay’s pro tempore presidency of MERCOSUR with the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship as a timely opportunity to deepen engagement between the two regional blocs.
Both countries agreed to explore a roadmap for closer MERCOSUR-ASEAN cooperation in trade, investment, and regional value chains.
Peña reaffirmed Paraguay’s commitment to elevating bilateral relations into a strategic partnership and announced the country’s intention to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, signaling deeper diplomatic engagement.
Two bilateral agreements were signed, witnessed by Peña and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The first is a memorandum of understanding on mutual cooperation in diplomatic training, establishing a framework for skills development, training, and academic exchanges.
The second agreement waives visa requirements for ordinary passport holders, facilitating tourism, business, and people-to-people exchanges.
