Paraguay - major soybean exporter in the 'Heart of South America'

Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in central South America, bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. 

Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the centre of the country from north to south. Due to its central location in South America, it is sometimes referred to as Corazon de Sudamerica ('Heart of South America').Indigenous people have been living in eastern Paraguay for at least a millennium before the arrival of the Spanish. Spanish Conquistadores arrived in the country by navigating the Paraguay River at the beginning of the 16th century, establishing themselves in the City of Asuncion, which nowadays is the capital of Paraguay.The country became independent at the beginning of the 19th century.With around 7mn inhabitants, Paraguay is a founding member of Mercosur, an original member of the United Nations, the Organisation of American States, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Lima Group. Also, the city of Luque, in Asuncion's Metropolitan Area, is the seat of the Conmebol. Paraguayans are known for being a very happy and easy-living people and many times the country topped the "world's happiest place" charts because of the "positive experiences" lived and expressed by the population. In recent years, the economy has grown as a result of increased agricultural exports, especially soybeans. Paraguay has the economic advantages of a young population and vast hydroelectric power. The soybean industry has grown exponentially in South America, including in Paraguay. The results of this growth have been substantial for Paraguay especially and the soybean industry has brought economic expansion to the country.According to information available online, Paraguay was fourth on a list of top 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of soybeans during 2017. Its soybeans exports were worth $2.1bn, accounting for 3.7% of the worldtarget="_blank"'>