Digital signature: Close to Becoming Effective in Paraguay

The Executive branch of the Paraguayan Government by Presidential Decree nº 7369 has approved the General Regulation which grants juridical validity to the digital signature, as well as electronic signature, data messages and electronic files.

The implementation of this service is expected as of June 2012. The training for of proper use will commence after the equipment arrives and is set up. The equipment will be donated by the European Union to MERCOSUR, in its aim to adequate Mercosur´s countries to electronic commerce procedures, which are already being used in other countries of the world.

At this stage, the Government has not yet decided which public entity will be responsible for the implementation and application of this new electronic system. The National Institute of Technology, Standardization and Metrology (INTN), or the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIC), are the two institutions to carry out this project.

It is important to point out that the first beneficiaries of the digital signature will be corporations, public ministries and the Judiciary, for electronic files.

The advantages of this system, to name only a few, will be: time and cost saving, efficiency, and security at business and institutional levels.

This is an important step for Paraguay given that it will greatly improve the commercial and administrative organization and our relationship with other countries.