Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Peruvian exports improve the quality of life of Peruvians, says ADEX president

By Marienella Ortiz, El Comercio
Adapted from Spanish by Diana Schwalb

The direction Peru's exports and the effect of the anti-crisis plan on are some of the issues

Photo: Dante Piaggio

addressed in this interview with the current president of the Association of Exporters (ADEX), Jose Luis Silva. On April 1 he will step down and leave the position to John Varilias, of the agricultural export company Gandules.

What do you think is the role of exports in the Peruvian economy?
We are the engine of the economy and major generators of jobs. The world’s best working practices were brought to Peru by the export companies in the manufacturing sector as well as in the agricultural, employment and environmental fields.

They were forced to do it by the demands in foreign markets...
I agree 100 percent. It was not because we are nice and they like us. However, there is also a subject of responsibility. Being a globalized business makes you know other realities and have the same thing you see in other countries. Then, these good practices are copied in other sectors of the domestic market. What I mean is that the contribution of the export sector is not just a matter of how many dollars it exports, but the improvement of quality of life of Peruvians.

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Exports from Peru in 2010: It's more than fishmeal and silver

By Brennan Potts

As world markets recover, countries and people will resume their demand for goods and services that will fuel their economies. Peru will play a vital role as a trade partner to many countries who need Peruvian products for business and life. The Peruvian economy is expected to see real GDP growth of more than five percent in 2010. A large portion of this growth will come from the world’s demand for food, raw materials and energy that Peru can provide with its vast resources. Below is a look at six of Peru's main export areas and trends to look out for 2010.

Agriculture

Peru’s diverse climate and proximity to the equator allows for increased crop productivity and a variety of products to be grown. The coast has a dry subtropical climate with little rainfall whereas the Andes region is marked by seasons including rain during the summers. Peru has more than 5,000,000 hectares (19,300 square miles) of farmland producing agriculture products. 

Peru is currently the world’s number one exporter of asparagus, organic bananas and organic coffee. It is second place in the spice paprika, made from dried bell peppers or chili peppers. Other main exports include artichokes, grapes, mangos and avocados. As of January, in accordance with the bilateral free trade agreement, Haas avocados are allowed for export to the United States, the largest avocado market. This news will benefit local producers, as it is expected exports of the Hass avocado could reach 19,000 tons annually to the United States.

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Betting on cranberry juice: An interview with L'Onda Beverages

By Vanessa Antúnez
For El Comercio

After working for an American juice company, George Westphalen decided to start his own brand in Peru, L'Onda. His company now has several brands and exports 60% of its juices.

George Westphalen studied the behavior of the global market of cranberry for seven years. He previously became regional director of a leading American company and he managed to enter the Latin American market. He also introduced the idea of producing the product in Peru, but the transnational withdrew that proposal and the contract with Westphalen ended in good terms. And so, he began importing cranberry pulp from the U.S. to process it in Peru and then export it.

If the American company, after making a cost analysis did not think it appropriate to make its product in Peru, why did you think you could?
While the United States consumes more beverages in PET containers, tetrapack packaging is best known in Latin America and about 90% of juices are sold in a container made of that material. So I insisted.

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Cusqueña beer wins presence, and awards, in the UK

By the British Peruvian Chamber

Cusqueña is the Premium national beer in the Backus brand portfolio. “The magic is in the details” is the phrase that identifies this brand, through which the company seeks to transmit the ancient heritage of the Incas who sought perfection and paid attention to detail in their works.

Chilli Marketing Promotions has been the exclusive importer of Cerveza Cusqueña to the United Kingdom since 2004, achieving a significant presence and activity there. In 2009, sales of Cusqueña have grown more than 40% in the UK, where it is sold in 25 cities in England, Scotland and Wales. It is present in over 120 bars, restaurants and prestigious hotels in London, in over 2,400 supermarkets throughout the country, and in only five years Cusqueña has become one of the 21 most sold brands in the more than 80 beer brands competing in the 4 pack format.

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The Renegotiation of the Camisea Gas Contract

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Trade Mission

Info provided by the
American Chamber of Commerce of Peru (AmCham Peru)

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Cotton: Peruvian Gold for the U.S. Market

Courtesy of AmCham Peru

Northern Peru is home to cotton production in Latin America. The varieties produced in Peru are: pima, tanguis, rough, hill and native. Our weather is the most conducive to the world for the cultivation of cotton.

Today, cotton is considered the white gold of Peru. And this is the main input for the development of the textile sector, one of the main sectors exporting more. In recent years, the increase in exports of textiles and apparel to the United States has been quite remarkable, since 2005, according to figures from the Peruvian and U.S. Customs; we have surpassed the US$ 800 million in textile export and clothing.

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FTA already in force since 1st. February: 98% of our exports enter the U.S. without tariffs

Courtesy of
After more than four years since we started negotiations for an FTA with the United States, it will take next February the 1st, with the entry into force of this trade agreement. In the region, only two countries have FTAs with the U.S., Chile and now, Peru. So, given that investment opportunities are better in Peru than in Chile, we must build on this agreement.

More than 6,200 tariff will enter this market with immediate relief. This means the opening of a market that is permanent and will allow us to create jobs in times of difficulty, as the current international crisis.

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The new “Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act” of the American Government

Courtesy of

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission - CPSC has jurisdiction over 15,000 types of consumer products. The CPSC works to ensure the welfare and health of the American consumer, regulating consumer products targeted to the residential, educational, recreational or personal use.

 

Under the laws of the U.S. government to give jurisdiction to the CPSC, related to the products manufactured or produced or imported to the United States, it is the Consumer Product Safety Act - CPSA, established in 1972, and it has the aim to give the CPSC standards for consumer products, aiming to protect consumers from risks and permanent damage caused by such products.

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Peru: Speeding up trade

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