Paraguayans Visit Mn.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - The president of Paraguayan credit union trade association, Central de Cooperativas del Area Nacional Ltda. (CENCOPAN), was on hand for the Minnesota Credit Union Network's (MnCUN's) Annual Meeting. This is the fourth year of partnership between CENCOPAN and MnCUN, with CENCOPAN President Dr. Modesto Segovia Boltes speaking to the meeting.

The two organizations were paired in 2004 through the World Council of Credit Unions' International Partnership Program.

In his presentation, Segovia discussed credit unions in Paraguay, the country's new cooperative regulatory standard, industry challenges, and CENCOPAN's role amidst those challenges. Segovia spent time at two Twin Cities credit unions, City & County Credit Union and Hiway Federal Credit Union.

Later this year, Minnesota credit union representatives will attend CENCOPAN's annual meeting in Paraguay; a regulator exchange will take place, involving the NCUA, Minnesota Department of Commerce, and Paraguay's credit union regulator INCOOP; and a credit union exchange program started in 2006 will continue, bringing credit union employees from both countries to the other.