"With an area of more that  3.100.000 km², a the Plate River Basin is one of the four largest river basins of the world, and shared among  Brasil, Bolivia, Paraguai, Argentina e Uruguai.  From a rural area with relatively low-impact activities, this region has transformed into an agro-industrial  region focused on exports to Europe, the United States, China and other regions.  Its population tops  130 million inhabitants.  The basin is home to 100% of the population Paraguay, nearly 90% of the population of Uruguay, more than 80% of Argentines, 55% of Bolivians, and 54% of Brazilians.

Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Asunción and Brasilia- four national capitals—lie within this region.
More than 70% of the GDP of the five countries is generated within the Plate River basin.  It is one of the largest grain producers in the world, most of which is exported to Europe and Asia.  Today, it is also the site of the largest concentration of biofuels production in South America.  The Brazilian part of the basin produced more than 550 million of sugar cane in 2010/11, on 6 million hectares, for the production of sugar, ethanol, and electricity. Both the production of grain and biofuels have seen a strong expansion in recent years, driven by large Brazilian, American and European companies"

Alcides Faria