[Edaily Reporter Shin Ha-yeon ] WOOJIN PLAIMM CO., LTD(049800), a company specializing in injection molding machines, is set to target the automotive parts market in Central and South America, including Paraguay, leveraging a government-sponsored Official Development Assistance (ODA) project.

WOOJIN PLAIMM CO., LTD announced on the 21st that a 12-member government delegation, including the Deputy Minister of Industry of Paraguay, visited its headquarters to observe the injection molding machine manufacturing process and the technical workforce training system.

This visit was arranged to discuss follow-up cooperation for the “Paraguay Automotive Parts TASK Center” project, which is being promoted by the Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH) through the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s industrial ODA program. As part of an invitation-based training program organized by KATECH, the Paraguayan delegation visited the WOOJIN PLAIMM CO., LTD headquarters to examine the TASK Center’s operational plans and models for training specialized technical personnel.

WOOJIN PLAIMM CO., LTD introduced the delegation to its injection molding machine manufacturing processes, injection molding technology, global sales and service network, and trends in the automotive parts industry. While touring the production site, the delegation observed the injection molding machine production process, the technical support system, and the specialized workforce training system.

Through this initiative, WOOJIN PLAIMM CO., LTD plans to expand an export model that integrates equipment supply, technical training, and local workforce development. Last year, the company installed three injection molding machines in the machining and production training facility at the Paraguay Automotive Parts TASK Center. This equipment is being used to train local technical personnel in the automotive parts injection molding sector and to provide guidance on technical challenges.

The company is also concurrently training local technical personnel. Last July, talented individuals in the injection molding field selected from Paraguay received two weeks of specialized training at the WOOJIN PLAIMM CO., LTD Technical Training Center. Those who completed the training are currently working as operators at the Paraguay TASK Center and are scheduled to be developed into local instructors in the future.

Through the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s industrial ODA program, KATECH is collaborating with Paraguay’s Ministry of Industry to establish the Automotive Parts TASK Center, as well as to pilot the distribution and operation of commercial electric vehicles, train specialized technical personnel, and strengthen policy-making capabilities in the automotive industry.

Paraguay is fostering its automotive parts industry based on the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and the Maquila system. In 2024, Paraguay’s automotive parts exports totaled approximately $307 million, accounting for about 28% of the total exports of the Maquila industry. According to the company, investments from multinational manufacturers participating in the global automotive supply chain are also continuing.

An official from WOOJIN PLAIMM CO., LTD stated, “For the Paraguayan automotive industry to achieve sustained growth, it is essential to establish a combination of state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, skilled technical personnel to operate them, and a system for ongoing technical support,” adding “Based on public-private cooperation between the Korea Automotive Research Institute and Paraguay’s Ministry of Industry, we will leverage WOOJIN PLAIMM CO., LTD’s injection molding technology and know-how to support the stable establishment and development of the TASK Center, and we will continue to expand our cooperative relationship with Paraguay’s growing automotive parts industry,” the official added.