Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz


A four-day conference dubbed "The People's Summit", which is to be held at the Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, will begin on Tuesday May 13 and end on Friday May 16 with a meeting at one of Lima's main plazas.

Rosa Guillén, the event's organizer, explained that the summit would end in a gathering at Plaza 2 de Mayo in Lima and assured that the presidents of Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela and Cyprus would be present.

"The close of this summit will take place at a meeting in which our conclusions and proposals to governments will be read," said Guillén on a television program.

She confirmed that the conference would begin on Tuesday May 3 and would be held at the Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, explaining that topics such as poverty, global warming, commerce and ecology would be discussed.

Guillén assured that the meeting had been organized with the permission of Peru's Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Those that will assist this summit are social organizations, female peasants, indigenous women and ecologists among others, said Brid Brennan, a member of the Tribunal Institute and the international coordinator for the event.

Peru government backs away from Suez gas pipeline

Peru's government said on Friday that it would prioritize the construction of a natural gas pipeline in the Andes, instead of one along its Pacific coast that is being pushed by France's Suez Energy. Suez has told the government it would invest around $800 million building a pipeline from Peru's Camisea field. (Reuters - click here to read complete article)


The Next to Notch an Upgrade?

The next country in line to receive an upgrade on its sovereign rating could be Peru. "That's the one that everybody is focused on," says Joyce Chang, global head of emerging-markets strategy at J.P. Morgan Chase. Fitch Ratings has already judged Peru's external debt to be investment grade, but its larger counterparts, Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors Service, have yet to follow suit. An S&P analyst said in April it may upgrade Peru to investment-grade status later this year. (The Wall Street Journal - click here to read complete article by Joanna Slater)


Peter Mandelson, European Trade Commissioner, pins hopes on Peru talks

Peter Mandelson is looking to a meeting between leaders of the European Union and Latin America in Peru this week to help to break the two-year deadlock in the Doha Round of international trade liberalisation talks. Speaking before the negotiations scheduled for Friday in Lima, the European Trade Commissioner said: “I hope we can use the meeting to give new momentum to the Doha talks in Geneva. (Times Online - click here to read complete article by Rory Watson)


Sunnyside Senior Project Helping Students In Peru

Yakima -- It's more than just fulfilling his high school graduation requirement Adrian's working on a project he's now made a personal mission. Adrian Chacon, helping students in Peru says, "The mother's hugging their babies and stuff like that, people dead on the streets that's what really moved me to do this senior project." He's putting together bags filled with school supplies. Everything from notebooks, pencils, pens, sharpeners, scissors and erasers. (kimatv - click here to read complete article by Sade Malloy)


Peru's Miranda wins Tunica Challenger

Two years ago, Ivan Miranda's professional tennis career hit bottom. At age 26, the grueling practices, the constant travel and the mounting expenses had taken their toll and, in the process, drained the enthusiasm from the Lima, Peru, native. His world ranking, which had reached a career-best 104 in July 2003, had fallen to 553. (Commercial Appeal - click here to read complete article by Phil Stukenborg)

Scotiabank: EU-LAC summit is hosted in the best moment of Peruvian economic history

(LIP-do) -- The summit of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean (EU-LAC) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) are hosted in the best moment of the Peruvian economic history and within a context of relative social stability, reported today Scotiabank. The bank indicated that such events will help the country show its achievements and expand the positive image that Peru is already projecting to the world. “The designation of Peru as venue of the summits is a form of recognition to the stability and security conditions reached by the country during the last years”, expressed the bank. Likewise, it is a recognition to the compromise of the Peruvian democracy and the respect for the human rights because all these factors are considered before the election of a country as an international summit venue.


Peru’s National Police guarantees complete security for V EU-LAC summit

(LIP-do) -- The Peruvian minister of Interior, Luis Alva Castro, informed today that 95,400 police officers have been mobilized in the country to guarantee security and order during the V EU-LAC summit to be initiated on May 13. Alva Castro indicated that all specialized units of Peru’s National Police (PNP) will be located in adequate places, and the Head Office of Immigration of the Ministry of Interior is going to guarantee the needed fluency and rapidness to make easier the ingress of the EU-LAC guests to Peru. In addition, the minister expressed that PNP has disposed of security groups to escort dignitaries and high authorities toward the places where they will be hosted. Likewise, there will be security inside and outside of the National Museum, which is main venue of the EU-LAC activities.


EU-LAC Summit not to be affected by protests, says Vega Llona

(LIP-do) -- The V Summit of EU-LAC not be affected by any protest called by labor unions in Peru, said EU-LAC summit organizer Ricardo Vega Llona who also remarked that not many Peruvians will take part in demonstrations. “Labor union leaders are trying to take advantage of EU-LAC summit to call people's attention and cloud it, but I am sure Peruvians will not support this type of opposition”, president of the EU-LAC High Level Commission, Vega Llona said. Vega Llona regretted that workers from different sectors have planned protests for the week of the EU-LAC summit, which is "an open window of opportunities for Peru". Despite possible strikes and demonstrations, Vega Llona hopes that labor union leaders will call off protests that could tarnish this big event gathering more than 40 heads of state and government from both continents.


Entrepreneurial women to start export-oriented businesses during APEC meetings

(LIP-do) -- The Exhibition of Businesswomen’s Products being held in the framework of the APEC meetings in Arequipa will enable Peruvian women entrepreneurs to meet one-on-one with visiting foreign companies and to discuss opportunities in our country. “The event will encourage local businesswomen to set up businesses and establish direct trade relations with foreign partners. 13 Peruvian and foreign brokers have come to play an important part in handling the negotiations”, said minister of Women and Social Development, Susana Pinilla Cisneros. Minister Pinilla participated in the opening ceremony of the Exhibition of Businesswomen’s Products and Business Round that took place today at the Convention Center “Cerro Juli”, located in the Arequipenian district of Bustamante Y Rivero. To continue reading this article, click here.


News Source: Andina and Prensa APEC

Visitor dignitaries to Cusco will have all facilities for touring Machu Picchu

(LIP-do) -- At least four dignitaries, who will visit Cusco in the framework of the V European Union, Latin America, and the Caribbean (EU-LAC) summit to be held in Lima, are going to have all facilities to visit the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. The Cusco’s regional president, Hugo Gonzales, said he met the Polish ambassador last Thursday to coordinate issues regarding the visit of the Prime Polish minister, Donald Tusk. Gonzales indicated he expects that other attending dignitaries to the V EU-LAC summit can visit the Imperial city, even in anonymous way. “Some visitors will arrive anonymously and others in a public way, but the most important is that Cusco is opening its doors, the arms, to receive them with a great cordiality”, remarked the regional authority. Gonzales also mentioned that he wishes that visitor presidents to Cusco then can boost the investment in the Imperial city.    


EU-LAC summit to help stopping food shortage crisis, says minister Aráoz

(LIP-do) -- In the framework of the V EU-LAC summit, it will be looked for technological improvements to increase fields' productivity in order to avoid a food shortage crisis, stated today Peru's minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Mercedes Aráoz. “We need to work in the prevention and improvement of the agricultural competitivity”, the minister Aráoz stated to the Peruvian radio CPN. Aráoz considered that it’s impossible to give financial assistance to ambits other than feeding because it has to be prevented that measures not being turned into crisis. The Peruvian minister also said the food price is a very important worldwide topic and it affects global economies. Aráoz also mentioned that the climate change topic is related to prevent damage of the Earth's lungs.


Mexico hopes EU-LAC summit helps to increase support to fight the poverty

(LIP-do) -- The V EU-LAC Summit should consent to increase the European support in the fight against the poverty in the countries which are in process of development, stated the Mexican ambassador to Peru. Antonio Villegas. Villegas stated that during the international event both blocks have the responsibility of working together in terms of strategies and policies to mitigate the poverty and exchange experiences of this matter. The European Union maintains support programs in the whole region and as far as this topic becomes the focus of the discussion, it would be expected to get an increment in the cooperation to fight poverty, said Villegas to Andina news agency. The Mexican ambassador recalled that countries of this region are doing outstanding efforts to end with this problem, and he indicated that Mexico, through its social programs, have managed that 8 million people let behind the poverty in the last years.


Second day of Digital Economy Forum for Women starts today in Arequipa

(LIP-do) -- The second day of the Digital Economy Forum for Women started this morning in the framework of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC). This forum takes place in Arequipa since yesterday with the presence of 200 delegates of the 21 most important member economies of the world. This event will count on the participation of The vice-minister of communications in Peru, Cayetana Aljovín, the vice-chancellor of the National University of Engineering, Aurelio Padilla Ríos, as well as the representatives of the Asian Pacific Women's Information Network Center (APWINC), who will contribute the analysis with the topic: Innovative Strategies for the participation of the women in the digital economy. Today’s main meetings will enjoy Latin-American and Peruvian folkloric shows. The attendances will also enjoy the traditional music of Arequipa. Lorna Wright, Associate Professor of International Business at the Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, Canada, and also currently Visiting Professor at School of Commerce and Accountancy, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok Thailand will close this event by the afternoon.


News Source: Andina and Prensa APEC

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz


"We are in the eyes of the world," said Peru's President Alan Garcia as he emphasized the importance of the two summits to be held in the Andean country in 2008.

Because the 5th EU - LAC summit and the APEC summit are to be held in the country this year, the government has declared this year the "Year of the Summits".

While the APEC summit will not take place until November, the EU - LAC summit will be held in Lima this coming week.

The summit has been the cause of everything from new holidays to the transfer of 6,000 police officers to provide safety for the 46 heads of state that will be in the country.

Over a dozen areas in Lima have been completely closed off in the city to make sure international representatives are kept out of harms way.

Two of the main areas that have been closed off are the National Library and the National Museum, two sites where meetings will be held.

One of Peru's main roads, Javier Prado Avenue, will be closed off at certain points beginning Saturday (today). This and many more of the city's streets will be closed, forcing motorists to take detours.

People living in the vicinity of the National Museum or any one of the fourteen hotels where delegates are staying have been registered and given special passes to enter restricted areas.

If residents do not have a pass, they will not be let through roadblocks and will have to take one of the many detours in the city.

El Comercio daily has prepared an excellent map showing motorists all of the detours that will have to be taken and where restricted areas are located.

Click here to view the map.

Luis Castañeda, the mayor of Lima, happily got behind the wheel of one of the new natural gas buses that is to transport up to 180 passengers across Peru's capital. The mayor introduced three models of buses that will be circulating through Lima in another year. The buses have everything from reserved seating to flat screen televisions.

Chilean Wood Corporation (Corma) and the Society for the Promotion of Manufacturing (Sofofa) showed their concern about the announcement made by the directory of Empresas CMPC, owned by Matte Group, that they will not build a paper plant in Chile due to high energy costs, transferring this investment to Peru, instead.

Corma’s president, Fernando Léniz, stated there are other internal problems in Chile besides the high electricity costs that are causing resentment in the business sector.

“Peru has a better labor environment and a better violence control. Chile is being affected by the idea that pressure groups can satisfy their demands through the illegality and violence”, said Léniz to the Chilean journal “El Mercurio”.

Andrés Concha, general secretary of Sofofa, has a similar opinion. He says that companies are considering several factors, such as stability and how the institutions work.

However, the president of the Confederation for Production and Commerce (CPC), Alfredo Ovalle had a different opinion. He ruled out that Chile had a business tendency to move its investment to other countries, such as Peru.

“We regret that Matte has taken this decision. We don’t think this is a tendency, but a reasonable decision especially when you have to think in long-term investments”, said Ovalle to the Chilean journal.

News source: ANDINA

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz


Peru's youth and young people in Latin America in general prefer surfing the internet instead of watching television, revealed a survey done by the University of Navarra and Educared, a program organized by the Telefonica Foundation.

On Friday, Telefonica released the results of the new survey, which included seven Latin American countries.

22,000 children from over 200 schools in Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela took part in the poll.

The technological preference survey for children and youth, which is the first of its kind, was conducted between July and October 2007.

According to the survey, 42 percent of the 11-year-old children that participated stated they preferred surfing the Internet as opposed to watching T.V

Figures rose as high as 60 percent in adolescents between the ages of 14 and 15.

Youngsters between the ages of 10 and 14 that did not have access to the Internet at home stated it was one of their strongest desires and affirmed they logged on without their parents' supervision at cafes and other places.

The survey also showed that while 81 percent of the children questioned used cellular phones to make and receive calls, over half of them used the phones to play games.

Peru attracts Israeli investors

Investors from Israel are seeing Peru with new eyes and recognizing stable conditions for an expansive economic process, said Israel’s ambassador to Peru, Walid Mansour. He indicated these potential investors consider that any sector is susceptible for receiving investments due to the current development in Peru, besides its stability and availability of natural resources. “The Peruvian economy is in a sustained growth process and there is country security which is a very important aspect for investors at the moment of taking decissions”, he added. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Cusco, Peru exports fresh artichoke to Europe

The southern Andean region of Cusco exported, on Thursday, the first 120 tons of thorn-free artichoke to Spain, representing the first artichoke consignment exported to Europe, announced a representative of Sierra Exportadora, a government program aimed to help people from Peru's highlands. Artichokes were exported by a group of Andean farmers from the town of Ancahuasi (Anta, Cusco) with the support of the government program Sierra Exportadora. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)

Public transportation to operate normally during EU-LAC Summit, says Vega Llona

(LIP-do) -- The head of the High Level Commission of the V European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean (EU-LAC) Summit, Ricardo Vega Llona, said that public transport will operate normally during the days of the summit and added that traffic access has only been restricted at some avenues near hotels where foreign guests will stay. Vega Llona mentioned that streets located in the surrounding areas of hotels will be restricted, but emphasized that alternative routes will be used to avoid traffic congestion and disturbances to guests. He mentioned that most restricted avenues are located in the districts of Miraflores and San Isidro. For this reason, Vega Llona asked Limeños to be patient because the carrying out of this international summit will benefit Peru in a significant way.


200 women attend APEC Digital Economy Forum for Women in Arequipa

(LIP-do) -- At least 200 women including businesswomen and representatives from the government and non governmental organizations from the 21 member economies of the Asia Pacific region attend the first meeting of APEC “Digital Economy Forum for Women” in Arequipa. The first topic to be discussed at the meeting is the “Introduction to Initiative for APEC Women’s Participation in the Digital Economy. To continue reading this article click here.


Bachelet and Evo Morales to hold bilateral meeting during EU-LAC Summit in Lima

(LIP-do) -- The presidents of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, and Bolivia, Evo Morales, will hold a bilateral meeting in Lima, within the framework of the V EU-LAC Summit, which will take place from May 13 to 17. The Bolivian government confirmed the meeting and indicated that one of the issues of the bilateral agenda will be the demand of Bolivia to obtain an outlet to the Pacific Ocean. During this meeting Morales and Bachelet will tackle of issues of bilateral interest focusing on 13 points. The Bolivian press reported that prior to the presidential encounter, the chancellors of both countries, Alejandro Foxley from Chile and David Choquehuanca from Bolivia, will hold a meeting to define the details of the presidential meeting.


San Miguel, Lima to organize Peruvian Folk and Dance Festivals during EU-LAC

(LIP-do) -- The Municipality of San Miguel in Lima will organize two festivals showcasing the best of Peruvian folklore and traditional dances on May 14 and 15 as a way to welcome the distinguished visitors that will arrive in Lima to attend the V EU-LAC Summit. On May 14th, the best exponents of Peruvian folk dances will perform in the "Traditional and Contemporary Dance Show” to start at 19:45 at the “Casa de la Cultura” (420, Federico Gallese Avenue). On May 15th, the Municipality of San Miguel will offer the show called “Focklore Summit”, in which a rich repertoire of Peruvian dances and songs will be presented. This show will take place at the municipal stadium "Adelfo Magallanes", at 17:30, and will feature renowned artist like Sonia Morales, William Luna and Grupo América.


News Source: Andina