What is the APPG?

It is an association of Paraguayan professionals and foreign residents in the country, and who have graduated in the U.S.A. 

The idea to found an Association of professionals who graduated in the United States was born in October 1993 when the American Ambassador in Paraguay at that time, J. Glassman invited those who graduated in the USA to a concert of a country music group "Tim and Molly O’Brian " at the US Embassy.  To this fact it was added the unconditional support given by Mr. Mark Jacobs, at that time Director of USIS, and the invaluable contribution of the Paraguayan American Cultural Center through Mr. Peter Jones, Executive Director of the CCPA.  

Finally, after several meetings, the APPG was founded on November 24, 1993 and on April 26, 1994 the first Executive Committee was elected, with Dr. Arnaldo Acosta as Chairman, and Eng. Angel Auad as Vice-Chairman.

Among the purposes of the APPG are:  

 - To promote the cultural, professional and technical relations between its associates and the community.  

- To promote the ties with the United States through activities organized with the support of the CCPA and the Embassy of the United States in Paraguay.  

- To promote the qualification of human resources.  

At the moment, the APPG comprises more than 150 professionals of different specialties such as:  Doctors of Medicine, Biochemists, Dentists, Psychologists, Veterinarians, Economists, Attorneys at Law, Journalists, IT Analysts, Architects and Engineers (Civil, Agronomical, Industrial, Electrical, etc.), and others, who are involved  in the private sector as much as in the public sector.  

Within the framework of the Mission defined for "acting as a catalyst for the exchange of experiences and knowledge, as well as to provide the cultural and social relationship among their associates, and society from Paraguay and the United States", from 1994 they have been developing cultural and artistic activities, forums and/or lectures about subjects of national interest with participation of national and international authorities, periodic meetings and "happy hours" for all its associates, where several subjects are addressed, and issues of civil and communitarian interest are discussed, as well as technical, philosophical and other subjects that are considered of interest and/or necessary in any of the areas of the human knowledge.  

Among these activities we can mention: 

-  Lecture by Dr. Donald Armstrong, Director of the Department of Medical Technology of the University of Buffalo.  

- Music concerts by the associate Lobito Martinez (RIP).

- Breakfast Meeting with Dr. Lawrance Harrison (Harvard University), on "The Thinking of the Under-Development."  

- Lecture by Dr. James Worth, Washington & Lee University, on "Prevention of Drug Abuse."  

- Lecture by Dr. Raymond Ciacci of the University of Chicago.   Title:  “Why some sons fail to live up to their father expectations.” 

- Conference by Dr. Juan Carlos Herken, PhD, London School of Economics, on "Economic Integration and their effects on the market."  

- Organization of the first Paraguayan Delegation for the Educational and Commercial Exchange Visit to Oklahoma.  It was attended by: The Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Director of Pro-Paraguay, Representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, CCPA and Student Adviser CCPA/USIS. 

- Joint-sponsorship with SEURT of the panel on "Urban Cultural Patrimony."  

- Jointly with the American University, the CCPA, Lecture by Dr. K. Fatemi, Dean of the University of Texas A&M International, on "MERCOSUR and NAFTA."  

- Work Meetings with Representative Tommy Thomas, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives of Oklahoma.  

- Lecture by Dr. Sherman Louis Cohn, Georgetown University, on "Professional Ethics in Law."  

- Discussion Panel on topics of medical interest by Dr. Miguel Gonzalez Oddone and Dr. Efrain Olszewer.

- Conference by Dr. Francisco Rivera Batiz, PhD, Columbia University.  

- Conference on "The International Trade and Regional Agreements", by Ellen Frost, Senior Fellow of the Institute of International Economics.  

- Jointly with Peace Corps, and supported by USAID, two complete days of workshops and exhibitions were developed on Leadership and Social Responsibility: “The Roll that the Public and Private Sector play in Development”; “Paraguay in the New World Order”, with guests such as our members Benjamin Fernandez Bogado, Ricardo Caballero Aquino, Robert White, Marcial Riquelme, and as a special guest Mark Jacobs.  

- Three Discussion Panels "Where is the Arc:  A vision for Development" with the Ministers from the MIC, MOPC, BCP and other outstanding local economists. 

- Cycle of three conferences: " Poverty, How to Cope with it", with the presence of the Director of CEPAL in the initial session and organized with other prestigious NGOs and other Government Institutions.  

- Launching of the first book of our Association about the activities of the previous year on "The Social Responsibility and the Vision of Future: Paraguay in the XXI Century".  

- Conference for the promotion of Development:  "A proposal of Agrarian Statute".  

- Preview performance of the play “Camino Real” (T. Williams) directed by Prof. A. González (University of Loyola of New Orleans).  

- MERCOSUR Conference - ALCA by Thomas O Keefe, Consultant of Washington.  

- Christmas Concert in charge of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Municipal Conservatory at the Theatre of the Central Bank of Paraguay. Directed by the Maestro Miguel Angel Gilardi.  

- Administration of the Funds of the Newspaper Archive Project of the National Library. 

- Lecture on climatic change by Dr. Antonieta Arias. 

Currently, the APPG is advocated at the implementation of an employment assistance system for professionals returning from the United States, by means of an alliance with the Company ‘PIVOT’.