This article describes India's development partnership with Paraguay and cooperation in specific sectors. It covers training under the ITEC programme, projects funded through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, and contacts in health, defence and disaster resilience. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of June 2026.
ITEC training
According to the MEA brief of June 2026, India initially offered 20 scholarship slots to Paraguay under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. The number was then increased in stages:
- 21 scholarships in AY 2022-23
- 37 scholarships in AY 23-24
- 50 scholarships in AY 2024-25
Other training and exchange programmes
Seven (07) Paraguayans participated in the "Gen-Next Democracy Programme" in India from 08-17 August 2022.
Ambassador Juan Andres Cardozo, Dean of the Diplomatic and Consular Academy "Carlos Antonio Lopez" of Paraguay, visited India in November 2022 to participate in the 48th International Forum for Diplomatic Training (IFDT). The forum was organised by the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, New Delhi.
India-UN Development Partnership Fund projects
Two projects in Paraguay have been funded by the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.
The first is the project 'Extension of Access and Coverage in Maternal Health in Remote Rural Areas, Indigenous Communities, and Border areas of the Paraguayan Chaco'. This two-year project concluded in June 2025. Its High-Level Closing Event was held on 15 November 2025 in Asuncion, where Secretary (East) Shri P. Kumaran participated as Guest of Honor and delivered the Keynote Address. A Project Report was launched by H.E. Dr. María Teresa Barán Wasilchuk, Minister of Public Health and Social Welfare of Paraguay, and Secretary (East).
The second project, 'Prevention of teenage pregnancy and violence/sexual abuse in girls and adolescents from an inter-sectoral approach', was concluded in September 2022.
Assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic
During EAM's telephone conversation with Paraguayan Foreign Minister Mr. Antonio Rivas Palacios on 30 April 2020, he conveyed India's decision to gift medicines and protective gear to Paraguay to support its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. On 25 August 2020, the gift was formally handed over in a virtual ceremony to the Minister of Public Health and Social Welfare of Paraguay, Dr. Julio Daniel Mazzoleni Insfran.
Following EAM's telephone conversation with Foreign Minister Mr. Euclides Acevedo Candia on 11 March 2021, the Government of India sent a gift of 200,000 doses of the Made in India Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin. The doses were received at Asuncion in two lots of 100,000 each, on 29 March and 25 April 2021. Later, 400,000 doses of Covaxin were delivered to Paraguay on 12 November 2021.
Health
The then Acting Minister of Health of Paraguay, Dr. Hernan Martinez, participated in the virtual session of the "Voice of Global South Summit 2023" titled "Cooperation to Build Resilient Healthcare Systems". The session was chaired by India's Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, on 13 January 2023.
Defence
Paraguayan defence officials have attended India's defence exhibitions. Vice-Minister of Defence of Paraguay Colonel Dr. Gladys Arsenia Ruiz Laconich visited India in October 2022 to participate in DefExpo 2022. Paraguayan Vice Minister of Armed Forces General (R) Angel Javier Cristaldo Navarro led a four-person delegation to Aero-India 2023 on 13-18 February 2023.
Disaster resilience
Col. R. Arsenio Ramon Zarate Ramirez, Minister, Secretariat of National Emergency, Government of Paraguay, participated in the 7th Meeting of the Governing Council of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), held on 21 April 2026 in New Delhi.
Scope of the partnership
Readers seeking information on current training opportunities should consult the Embassy of India in Asuncion or the Embassy of Paraguay in New Delhi.