We present you an interview with Francesco, a young entrepreneur from Turin, who left Italy eight years ago and decided to undertake a new professional life in Paraguay, that is a little but dynamic State in Latin America. Paraguay is an increasingly frequent destination for young entrepreneurs, who decide to turn their life around.
Hi Francesco, could you tell us shortly how did you decide to move to Paraguay?
Good morning, my path has actually been shorter and more straightforward than you can imagine.
I am from Turin and after the Scientific High School I decided to studied Business Administration at the University for five years. I have always liked business management, I feel like an entrepreneur and I like to do my business, but unfortunately I had to deal with the Italian job situation, that at present is not one of the best at all. I worked in two food companies for a couple of years, but I had fixed-terms contracts and after two years they ended.
Then, I asked myself whether it was worth looking for new job opportunities in Italy or it was better focusing on something else, maybe starting from my own passions.
I have always enjoyed travelling and, when I was younger, I dreamed of starting and managing a travel agency and showing tourists all the beauties of a country, even the most hidden ones.
Why did you think about Paraguay? It is not a country just around the corner and until recently it was not even well-known….
The first reason is that I knew a little bit of Spanish (I took a test at the University) and I have some friends from Madrid and Barcelona. I spent my holidays with them for three or four years. I like Spanish and the Latin way of thinking, but I wanted to move to a country where I could freely start my business and also enjoying many benefits. Spain is not at the level of Italy, but it also has some problems as regards employment, especially youth employment….
My Spanish friends talked me about Paraguay, because some of their friends moved there a couple of years before and they got very comfortable in that country.
I did my research online and I discovered that Paraguay is a little goldmine for anyone who wants to start his own business.
First of all, obtaining permanent residence is not complicated, if you rely on serious professionals and you only need a few documents from Italy: Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate or Civil Status Certificate, Criminal Record. You will prepare the other necessary documents in Paraguay.
What encouraged you to move to Paraguay?
Many reasons, but as regards my business (in Paraguay I have started a little travel agency with a Tour Operator Service), the reason is that I could use my Master’s Degree, because a validation on the ground is not required. Furthermore, I can benefit from a reduced VAT rate of 10% and once I started my business, I could receive funding to expand it.
And what about the cost of living?
It is not even comparable to the Italian or Spanish one. In Asunción with about 360 US dollars (where at present I live and I have my business) a single person can live without problems, if you also consider that the rent of a medium apartment is about 250 US dollars.
In addition, infrastructures are really modern and their development is constant.
What amazed you more in Paraguay?
Apart from its really wonderful nature, that Europeans can hardly imagine, I was really amazed by the warmth of Paraguayan people, by their sunny disposition and by the fact that I immediately felt welcomed. Paraguayan people are very friendly and opened to foreigners and offer them all the facilities to work well in their country. The inhabitants of Paraguay realize that the work of foreign people is essential to contribute to the constant development of Paraguay. Basically, their deep optimism also comes from that.
I have also discovered that even in the last century many Italians emigrated to Paraguay and in this country the Italian community is very present and active. I know several young entrepreneurs like me, who work in sectors others than the tourist ones, and they are doing very well too.
Furthermore, several years after I started and managed my business (at present I manage a staff of 10 people, who daily show tourists and residents all the beauties of this country, even the most hidden ones) my earnings increased, so I could buy an house just the way I like it and also make other investments, that satisfied me very much. In Paraguay housing market is constantly developing and also the purchase of land is convenient.
Hearing you speaking, it seems to me that moving to a foreign country, even to a foreign continent is very easy……I do not fully agree with you, but I am not questioning what you are saying. I think that if you are saying it, you certainly have your reasons and I ask you: what are they?
I am not denying anything: for me it was not easy leaving my country, but I can return there whenever I want. What I am satisfied with is the fact that now my personal and working life is fully achieved.
In addition, I live in a wonderful country for its nature, for its rhythms and quality of life and for its weather.
But what helped me more, during this difficult and delicate step of my life was relying on experienced professionals, who had a deep experience in managing all the aspects of my move to Paraguay. When you move to a foreign country, you have to face many aspects, that are not only bureaucratic, but also administrative, practical, psychological etc….
My Spanish friends advised me to rely on Living In Paraguay, because their friends, who moved to Paraguay, gave them great references about this company.
Living In Paraguay, literally, took my hand since the first phone interview. They took care of me and they managed perfectly well all the bureaucratic, administrative and practical aspects and in a short time I obtained my permanent residence, I rented an apartment and I got lights and gas turned on.
Furthermore, while I was preparing paperwork to obtain my permanent residence, I made my first journey to Rome with a consultant, who explained me everything that I had to know about Paraguay. He guided me and I became familiar with Paragua, a completely new country for me.
I have told you that at the beginning I did not speak and understand Spanish very well, but in any case consultants speak Spanish, English and Italian perfectly.
Living In Paraguay has impressed me for its transparency, its professionalism and its absolute competence in managing my move.
In addition, Living In Paraguay is the only European certified company specialized in moves to Paraguay and this is a guarantee.
Relying on experts is very important. In my experience, really facilitated everything.
With Living In Paraguay my move was not easy peasy, but it was a journey in a pleasurable company.
