Ivanka Trump meets with Paraguay's president as part of tour

Ivanka Trump met with Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benítez and female artisans Friday as part of her tour of South America, announcing the commitment of an additional $500 million in capital for a fund to help women entrepreneurs in the region.

Ivanka Trump, President Donald Trump's daughter and White House adviser, Paraguay's President Mario Abdo Benitez and first lady Silvana Lopez Moreira, pose for photos at Presidential Palace in Asuncion, Paraguay, Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. [Photo: IC]

The trip by U.S. President Donald Trump's daughter and special adviser is aimed at promoting a White House initiative for the economic empowerment of women and included previous stops in Argentina and Colombia. She arrived in the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion Thursday night.

Ivanka Trump said financial commitments to the Women's Prosperity and World Development Initiative would be doubled with "an additional $500 million in private sector capital" for women entrepreneurs.

She was accompanied by Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan.

Earlier, speaking to a group of invited women, she said the global empowerment project aimed to promote better vocational education, access to capital and markets, and establishing a legal and cultural environment that allows women to open bank accounts and obtain credit.

She greeted artisans who hand-made embroidered blankets and tablecloths as well as other products.

Abdo Benítez said in his welcoming message that Paraguay and the United States "have a historical friendship; we share values of democracy and institutionality."

"Today we also share values in defense of the family," he said. "We raise the same flag."

After meeting with Abdo Benítez, Ivanka Trump was scheduled to return to Washington.