Today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Heraldo Muñoz, met with the Social Director of Techo-Chile, Valentina Latorre, to evaluate the work of 1,200 of their volunteers in Paraguay. With the support of the Foreign Ministry, through the Chile Fund Against Hunger and Poverty, the young adults built 260 homes in the Department of Caaguazú, in southern Paraguay.
At the meeting, the leader of the NGO thanked the Foreign Ministry for the efforts that made the housing construction possible. In addition to the support provided through the Fund, the volunteers received full cooperation from Chile's consular network to make the bus trip that took them from Santiago to Paraguay.
On the occasion, the Minister expressed, on behalf of the Government of Chile, satisfaction with the work done. "I'm proud of what they have done in Paraguay. They are an example of solidarity for Chile, projecting the best image of our country abroad," he emphasized.
Along with assessing the work in Caaguazú, Foreign Minister Muñoz also highlighted the work of Techo-Chile in the region. "We are partners in this undertaking of solidarity with other Latin American countries because Techo-Chile is not only doing a commendable job in Paraguay, but in many countries of Latin America," he said.
The Secretary of State also conveyed that Valentina Latorre will be part of the Chilean delegation that will accompany President Michelle Bachelet to Asuncion tomorrow in the framework of an official visit. "The Director of Techo will go with us in the delegation as an expression of the importance of voluntary work in our country's relationship with our neighbors in South America."
When asked about the agenda in Paraguay, the Minister said that there would be "meetings with President Horacio Cartes, businesspeople and civil society," and stressed that there will be a special emphasis on trade. "It is a relationship totaling more than US$ 1.2 billion in increased investment," he remarked.
Finally, the Foreign Minister communicated that a large delegation from Public Works will travel to work on the road link between Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Chile, through bi-oceanic corridors. "If we want to be a bridge country between the countries of the Atlantic to the Asia-Pacific region we, of all countries, build these roads," he said. The Secretary of State stressed that Chile has already pledged support for the design and for the first steps toward paving the 500 kilometers that still must be built in Paraguay.