Jerusalem, July 30 (IANS/EFE): Israel reopened its embassy in Asuncion, Paraguay after 13 years of closure due to budgetary reasons, Israeli diplomatic officials said on Thursday.

"The decision was taken by the Israeli government in May 2014 in order to strengthen relations with Paraguay within the framework of earnest efforts to bolster mutual relations with Latin America in general," according to Modi Ephraim, deputy director general of the South America division at the Israeli foreign ministry.

The opening ceremony took place on Wednesday in Asuncion and was attended by Nissim Ben-Shitrit, outgoing director general of the Israeli foreign ministry, and the newly-named Israeli Ambassador Peleg Lewi, who presented his credentials to Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes a few days ago.

The Paraguayan side was represented by Agriculture Minister Jorge Gattini.

In recent years, bilateral relations between Israeli and Paraguay have strengthened both politically and economically.