Dr. Carlos Augusto Liseras Osorio, President of CONAJZAR, began his speech by highlighting the excellent bilateral historical relationship that unites Colombia and Paraguay.

"Paraguay has the best investment climate in the entire region, it is in the heart of South America, it is where 295 million people live, and it is the second largest exporter of electricity”. Paraguay is home to the Itaipu hydroelectric plant, which is one of the largest in the world, shared with Brazil.

Dr. Liseras Osorio continues: "Our country's tax system is one of the most competitive in the region. According to information from the Central Bank of the Republic of Paraguay, the GDP has increased by more than 50%, with low levels of public indebtedness. In other words, Paraguay has had sustained growth for more than two decades, with solid and sustained macroeconomic discipline. We have very attractive tax incentives for investment, for the acceleration of the processes for the expansion of companies, in addition to the granting of residence documents in the country for foreigners through abbreviated procedures, and the exemption or temporary suspension of customs duties on the import of raw materials and machinery and the exemption of national taxes in exchange for a public tax in the cases of the law of free trade zones and the Maquila law.”

Dr. Liseras Osorio went on to explain the Maquila regime: "a leader in the business investment climate, this law allows a foreign company to set up in the country or subcontract existing Paraguayan companies to process goods and services to be exported with the consequent added value. Logically, it is the gateway to Mercosur.”

It is important to recall that Paraguay, as a Mercosur member state, has access to a market of more than 295 million inhabitants, with a strategic physical location: "it borders Brazil and Bolivia to the north, Brazil and Argentina to the east, Argentina to the south, and Argentina and Bolivia to the west", said Dr. Liseras Osorio.

After having thoroughly highlighted the various advantages offered by the Paraguayan nation and the attractive investment incentives available, the president of CONAJZAR begins to delve into the central theme of the conference within the framework of the GAT EXPO event: Gaming.

He begun by giving a list of all the gaming concessionaires in the Republic of Paraguay in all their modalities, that is to say, those authorised through public bidding:

Azar Internacional S.A. is a physical casino in the department of Alto Paraná, which is distinguished from the Federative Republic of Brazil.

• Casino Paraguayo S.A. is a physical casino located in the department of Itapúa bordering the Republic of Argentina.
• SES Sociedad Anónima is a physical casino operating in the capital of the Republic of Paraguay.
• Casino Cerro Corajo, a physical casino operating in the department of Amambay bordering the Federative Republic of Brazil.
• Galisman S.A. is a telebingo broadcast by Canal 4 of the powerful Biersin Group network.
• Gambit S.A. is a telebingo of Canal 9
• the Jockey Club del Paraguay, a racetrack in the city of Asunción, capital of the Republic of Paraguay.
• TDP Sociedad Anónima, through Quiniela Nacional and Daruma Sam, sports betting.

It will be on this last point that Dr. Liseras Osorio will stop to highlight that Daruma Sam, with shares in the Republic of Colombia, as well as TDP, are the largest contributors of profits to the Treasury with the concept of canon, which is directed to the most vulnerable sectors of our society through the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare.

Regarding the provisional organisations and new gambling modalities currently operating in Paraguay, Dr. Liseras Osorio names the firm Siete Santos, which has table games, Bingo Par S.A., bingo games, Cosmopolitan, satellite betting on horse racing and greyhounds, and several online casinos.

To summarise, the types of Gaming class authorised by CONAJZAR are:

• Physical casinos
• Telebingo
• Online casinos
• Hippodromes
• Betting pools
• Sports Betting
• Table Games Bingo
• Satellite Betting 
• Horse and horseracing
• Online Bingo 
• Electronic Virtual Machines
• Instant Lotteries
• Quiniseis

However, Dr. Liseras Osorio goes on to clarify that his administration has revoked some licences to companies that were not complying with the terms of the contracts in force and the corresponding authorisations. This means that, "both individuals and legal entities that wish to invest in Paraguay can do so without any inconvenience, as long as they strictly comply with what is established in the contract", he clarifies.

In closing, he gives the information that there will soon be a tender for seven physical casinos in different locations in Paraguay: one in the capital, two in the central department, one in Alto Paraná, one in Itacúa, one in Misiones and one in Cordillera. "In addition, we are also willing to grant provisional permits for other forms of entertainment for the people," concludes Dr. Liseras Osorio.

Finally, he again points out the importance of investing in Paraguay and thanks the organisers of the GAT event: "we have a solid economy, legal security, and above all, we have a young president, Santiago Peña Palacios, who is providing opportunities for both foreigners and Paraguayan citizens who wish to invest within the legal framework".