Municipal Economic Development Strategies (Paraguay)
Date: 2000
Working with the Canadian Urban Institute, EcoPlan coordinated the development of three strategic economic development plans in the Paraguayan municipalities of Luque, (pop. 180,000) Aregua (pop. 130,000), Guarambare (pop. 9,000). These three municipalities are all in the Central Government District, adjacent to the capital of Asuncion. Tourism, small/medium-size business, and agriculture were some of the sectors that emerged in the process. EcoPlan’s strategic planning process helped generate unprecedented co-ordination and co-operation between the local government and groups of independently-minded stakeholders. The final plan focused on local organizational development, especially the tourism and crafts sectors.