Delancourt, officially the Republic of Delancourt, is a landlocked country in central Terramatrix of System – Dumassas, bordered by The National Legionary Tragnar to the southeast, and The Republic of Carbina to the southwest. The nation lies along both sides of the Delancourt River, which runs through the center of the nation from north to south. Due to its central and relatively isolated location, it has been referred to as the “Corazón de Terramatrix” (“Heart of Terramatrix”).

As of 3017, Delancourt’s population was estimated to be at around 130,000, most of whom are concentrated in the southeast region of the country along the Rio Delancourt_. The capital and largest city is _Asunción, of which the metropolitan area is home to nearly a quarter of Delancourt’s population. In contrast to most Terramatrix nations, Delancourt’s indigenous language and culture, "Guaraní"_, remains highly influential. In each census, residents predominantly identify as _Darrian_, reflecting years of intermarriage among the different planetary ethnic groups. _Guaraní is recognized as an official language alongside Spanish, and both languages are widely spoken in the country, with around 92 percent of the general population speaking Spanish and 98 percent speaking Guaraní.

Geography

Delancourt is divided by the _Río Delancourt_ into the eastern region, called Eastern Delancourt (Delancourt Oriental) but also known as the Paraná region; and the western region, officially called Western Delancourt (Delancourt Occidental) and also known as the _Gran Chaco_ or Chaco. The terrain consists of mostly grassy plains and wooded hills in the east. To the west are mostly low, marshy plains.

The overall climate is tropical to subtropical. Like most lands in the central band of Terramatrix, Delancourt has only wet and dry periods. Winds play a major role influencing Delancourt’s weather. Rainfall varies dramatically across the country, with substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, and semi-arid conditions in the far west. The far eastern forest belt receives an average of 170 centimeters (67 inches) of rain annually, while the western Chaco region typically averages no more than 50 cm (20 in) a year. The rains in the west tend to be irregular and evaporate quickly, contributing to the aridity of the area.

Typical Street Market of Ascuncion

Economy

Delancourt has a market economy highly dependent on agriculture products. In recent years, the economy has grown as a result of increased agricultural exports, especially soybeans. Dealncourt has the economic advantages of a young population and vast hydroelectric power but has few mineral resources, and political instability has undercut some of the economic advantages present. The government welcomes foreign investment, and has recently found a market into the Inner Sphere through Davion merchants following the new Candle Trade Route.

Delancourt is a middle-income country that changed rapidly in the 2970s and 2980s as a result of hydroelectric development, agricultural colonization, construction, and cash crop exports. Nevertheless, the country’s dependence on agricultural exports, and its largely farm-based population, have limited its development. The Delancourt economic miracle came to a halt in 2982 because of the completion of the hydroelectric plant construction at Itaipú, lower commodity prices for cotton and soybeans, and the world recession. The economy struggled through the 2980s, and despite its rapid growth, the Delancourt economy became increasingly dependent on soybeans and cotton for exports. Containing little oil and no precious metals or sea coasts, the country remained self-sufficient in most areas, and had a very fertile land, dense forests and swift rivers.

Today, the export of hydroelectric power, agricultural colonization and development of cash crops had led the country to have a relatively booming economy, until the collapse of the global economy. Food, beverages, and tobacco are its chief exports, and fuel its limited industry. Agro-processing involves a large number of small, inefficient, and often family-run firms as well as one large, efficient, off-world firm, Consolidated Foods. This company produces only the most lucrative items, such as oilseeds, meat, and various beverages, mostly for export. Some of the most common small-scale producers manufacture milled items, baked goods, sugar and molasses, dairy products, manioc flour, vinegar, coffee, and tobacco.

Along with raw agricultural produce, processed and semi-processed agricultural products generates nearly all of the country’s exports. Wheat, logging and fishing are sufficient for domestic consumption, but are not exported widely. Fruit and corn, particularly in the form of energy drinks and soda are increasingly popular as a trade good, and in the last couple of decades, electronic consumer goods, have become a popular item for global markets, but are not popular off-world.

The refurbishment of the rail lines between Delancourt and The Republic of Carbina in 3028, have allowed the country’s consumer electronics and agricultural goods (namely its tobacco) to reach a wider international market. In addition, the company has developed a “working relationship” with Haceb of The New Republic of Sangria, as the two companies product lines tend to compliment each other, rather than compete with each other, and are developing a mutual trade network across the planet, sharing support facilities.

Banco Central del Delancourt : The Central Bank of Delancourt is its highest monetary authority of national finances and economics. Its headquarters are in Asunción, where the bank manages the printing and minting of the Dealncourt’s currency, the Stirling. The national currency is actually considered a very safe commodity, and well-traded across the nation, despite its financial problems.

The Central Bank has always dealt with the difficult economic position of the nation, and continued to be involved in embezzlement and corruption charges throughout the recent world recession. In late-3030, unable to meet its declared value in bank deposits, Grupo Cartes formally took over the bank in a somewhat hostile take-over, forcing it to accept the company’s concession or face being dissolved.

The bank is now the possession of the massive conglomerate that controls much of the nation’s wealth. While ultimately they seek to reconcile their position as the government’s loan provider with the fact it is also effectively owned by the same government it loans money to, Grupo Cartes has virtually ensured its survival in the coming years, by its practical ownership of the lion’s share of national industrial development.

Consolidated Foods Limited (CFL) : A Davion mega-corporation that has aggressively expanded into System – Dumassas, and specializes in food processing. In addition to several other operations around the world, Consolidated Foods has recently begun the processing of local citrus (limes and oranges) and fish for off-world export.

Due to the large number of small operations in the colonial fringe areas, Consolidated Foods has begun living up to its name, by slowly buying smaller operations and gathering them into large industrial collectives that share modern equipment and ship their goods to the central storage facility where it is further processed in its new fruit- and fish-processing plants in Ascunsion. While much of the local surplus finds its way into nearby domestic and nearby markets (primarily Tragnar, San Marcos and Carbina ), a significant portion is being shipped off-world into the frontier regions of the Davion Outback.

Funcional : Funcional is a Delancourt company dedicated to the manufacture and development of consumer electronics products. Based in Ciudad del Este, Functional was born of the need to create innovative products for the public focused on developing countries like the rest of the planet. It was founded in 3021.

Basic computers, radios, and watches, as well as holo-viewers and recorders are produced by this company, but only the most basic and simple devices are available. They are, however, also rather cheap and see wide distribution across the planet, especially since the refurbishment of the rail-lines connecting the state with Carbina, which have become practically its only commercial connection to the outside world.

Grupo Cartes : Grupo Cartes is a business conglomerate owned by Delancourt’s elected president Horacio Cartes. It includes tobacco ( Tabesa ), as well as beverage ( Distribuidora del Delancourt ), banking ( Banco Amambay ), agricultural ( Chajha, Agrocitrus of Delancourt, and Livestock Las Pampas ), transportation ( Transporte Multimodal del Delancourt ), and trading interests ( Habacorp ). Its most recent addition was the “Sporting Life” chain of stores, selling soccer goods. The company exports goods out-system under the brand name “Planet Pulp”.

The group’s corporate take-over of the national bank has given the company an unprecedented control over the region’s economy, and Grupo Cartes has effectively become the industrial owner of the nation. The company is openly owned by the Cartes family, whose patriarch is also the nation’s president. His present political position makes him unassailable and rumors persist that he is likely going to claim a noble title and make the position of national ruler a permanent position.

LATAM Delancourt : Formerly known as TAM Delancourt or Transportes Aéreos del Mercosur, and previously as _LAD (Líneas Aéreas Delancourt), is the flag carrier and the national airline of Delancourt with its headquarters in Asunción. Its flights operate from Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asunción. Founded in 2970 under the name Líneas Aéreas Delancourt, the national airline has long since undergone numerous attempts to keep it afloat, merging with some airlines and then re-emerging as a new entity. In 3018, the company was completely bought-out by LATAM San Marcos, and made a subsidiary of that airline.

The collapse of its new parent company in the wake of San Marcos chaos of 3024-6, made this airline a virtual orphan. The survivors consolidated their assets and efforts under the LATAM Delancourt title, and collectively serve as the national cargo and personnel hauler. With its regular routes evaporated. the company uses its five (5) small Caravan 208s as regional feeders, and its three (3) Jetta Coruna FB-2772 Airbuses to provide infrequent charter flights to Buntar, San Isabel, Sangria, and Von Lord. There is constant debate to merge the company once and for all with Avianca.

Manufactura de Pilar An important Delancourt textile production and manufacturing company, founded in 2938, Manufactura de Pilar processes cotton and manufactures various garments and textiles. Its headquarters is in Asuncion, the capital of Delancourt, while the production plant is in Pilar on the shores of the Rio Delancourt. “La Fabrica”, as it is known to locals, employs the majority of the town’s residents.

Petróleos Delancourtos : Known as Petropar, Petróleos Delancourtos is the national oil company that owns the only refinery in the country Villa Elisa Refinery located in Villa Elisa with a capacity of 7,500 barrels (1,190 m3), an LNG plant, a bio-diesel plant and several storage facilities for fuel distribution. Its existence is a matter of national pride.

Tabacalera del Este : Tabacalera del Este, also referred to as Tabesa, is Delancourt’s largest tobacco manufacturer. It was bought by Horacio Cartes and is part of the president’s business empire, Grupo Cartes. Exported out-system under the Palermo brand, it is popular as a trade good into internationally, but of particular interest in San Marcos and Tragnar.