PARAGUAY: NEW MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE NELSON RUIZ

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SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: NEW MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE NELSON RUIZ
DIAZ BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION



1. Biographic information of the new Minister of Industry
and Commerce, Raul Vera Bogado.


2. President Duarte named Nelson Ruiz as Minister of
Agriculture on June 7, 2005 to replace former Minister
Antonio Ibanez (August 2003-June 2005) who resigned in the
wake of press reports about his alleged involvement in a
corruption scandal selling beef to the National Police.
Prior to his appointment as Minister, Ruiz served as a
Vice-Minister of Agriculture under Ibanez.


3. Ruiz is a technocrat, nominated by Duarte to modernize the
ministry and fill it with technical experts, according to
press statements. He has worked within the Ministry of
Agriculture in various capacities most recently serving as a
Senior Advisor for the Capacity Strengthening Project between
the Agricultural Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
From 2001-2004, Ruiz worked as a Specialist in Sustainable
Rural Development for the Institute of Agricultural
Cooperation. He has also served as a professor of Economic
Production at the Catholic University in Coronel Oveido,
Paraguay (1998) and as a technical professor at the Faculty
of Agrarian Sciences at the National University of Asuncion
(1999). From 1990-1995, he worked within the Ministry of
Agriculture as a Technical Advisor to the Planning Office.


4. Ruiz graduated from the National University of Asuncion in
1988 as an Agronomist. He also holds a Master of Science
Degree in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State
University. Ruiz is 40 years old and was born in Asuncion on
May 28, 1965.
WILLIAMS