UK Trade Comissioner to LATAC and Caribbean visits Paraguay
His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Latin America and the Caribbean, Jonathan Knott, will visit Paraguay on 22-25 May.
Ambassador Jonathan Knott, most senior representative of the British Government in business and trade for the Americas and the Caribbean, is visiting Paraguay. First Secretary for Trade and Economic Policy Mercosur Graeme Cummings accompanies him.
During the visit, Ambassador Knott will meet with a wide range of stakeholders in government business, finance, exterior relations and representatives from newly elected government. He will also meet with British and Paraguayan business stakeholders, trade chambers and unions, and will hold engagements with local media.
Energy and technology
Two key areas of exchange between the UK and Paraguay include the production of energy clean, sustainable energy, and cutting-edge technology in health services and agriculture.
Because of this, a visit to the city of Villeta will be one of the key components of the visit. This is where ATOME Plc’s green hydrogen and ammonia production project will be located. The scale is 120MW capacity, capable of producing up to 100,000 MT of ammonia per year. Hydrogen production is a key sub-sector in DBT’s Energy and Paraguay is one of the most advanced in this regard.
Another highlight of the visit will be the launch of the first surgical robot in Paraguay, a British tech export for minimally invasive procedures. The robot, Versius, was manufactured by british company CMR Surgical (Cambridge Medical Robotics) and arrives to Paraguay by the hands of DeLec Científica and Asismed S.A.
Strengthen trade ties
According to UK statistics, total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the UK and Paraguay was £77 million in 2022. Of this £77 million, total UK exports to Paraguay amounted to £42 million in 2022; these included beverages, cars, plastic and organic chemicals, and scientific instruments. Total UK imports from Paraguay amounted to £35 million in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2022. This included wood and cork and its manufacture organic chemicals, oil-seed and oleaginous, and meat and its preparation.
Ambassador Knott seeks to strengthen bilateral trade relations between the UK and Paraguay, understand priorities, and continue to work together to create more opportunities that help build closer commercial ties that promote prosperity for both countries.
About Ambassador Knott
Ambassador Knott was appointed as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Latin America and the Caribbean in February 2021. He is also His Majesty’s Consul General in São Paulo. Before he was Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Hungary and Poland, and Deputy Head of Mission in South Korea.
In 2019 HM the Queen honoured him as a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG). Jonathan has a master’s degree in law, is a qualified management accountant and has qualifications in leading change in large and complex organisations.