Living in Peru : your everyday companion

APEC Summit’s Week has first investment deal worth $2 billion

APEC 2008 Leaders’ Summit bears first fruit. The Chairman of the APEC CEO Summit 2008, José Miguel Morales, said today that the first investment for over 2 billion dollars in Peru will be confirmed in the course of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) meeting, held from November 17 to 20.,

Although he did not mention company and origin’s investment either, Morales indicated that this is a clear sign of confidence in the country's economic development.

“The first investment for over 2 billion dollars will be signed in the framework of ABAC meeting. This amount would be part of the six billion dollars estimated to be the total investments in Peru coming from negotiations and meetings of this forum”, he said in a local TV program.

According to Morales, preparatory activities, to hold the 4th Meeting of APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), have a good development.

“Everything is getting ready to host the Business Forum. We count on the participation of 1,210 delegates, from these 848 are foreigners , being China the largest delegation with 120 people, followed by Vietnam, United States, Korea, Russia and Canada”, he said.

News Source: Andina

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APEC issues sanitation approval for Lima restaurants

Living in Peru
Jobana Soto

Only a few days left until the big event kicks off. Soon, hundreds of delegates, political officials and security will crowd the streets of Lima for the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit and preparations are still being made to ensure the safety and accommodations for visitors.

With many foreigners, the risk of traveling overseas centers around the sanitary conditions found in food and local restaurants. For that reason, to avoid APEC delegates from getting food poisoning or other bacterial infections, APEC and Peru’s Ministry of Health are issuing restaurants an official seal of approval so visitors can sit down to eat without worries.

Though Lima is home to some of the best restaurants Peruvian food has to offer, there is still a risk of infection from stomach viruses or worst because of the unsanitary conditions in the country’s tap water.

While locals have grown accustomed to the water, many foreigners have not. To ensure the safety of delegates and tourists in town for the APEC Summit, APEC and the Ministry of Health have issued a special seal of approval for certain restaurants meeting their strict sanitation codes.

Click here to view an enlarged version.
News Source: An American in Lima

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Venues for Leaders’ Week are Ready to Receive APEC Delegates

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300 cameras to enhance security of leaders during APEC Summit

Peru’s first vice-president, Luis Giampietri, said that 300 surveillance cameras will watch presidents, heads of State and officials to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

He said that this important event count on a special security system and that action plans are practically ready to allow a normal development of activities scheduled for this Summit.

“In our security operations center, there is a system network composed of 300 cameras placed around Lima”, he said.

He added these cameras will make possible to track delegations, hotels’ surroundings and zones where Leaders will pass through.

At least 18 presidents and heads of State will arrive in Lima to participate in the APEC Summit, to be held on November 17-22.

News Source: Andina

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First ladies and ministers’ wives to visit tourist attractions in APEC Summit week

Seventeen first ladies, who will visit Peru on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, have already confirmed their participation to the tour including the most important historical places and tourist attractions in Lima.

APEC organizing committee has scheduled a two-day tour for the first ladies, as well as for wives of chancellors and ministers arriving to Peru.

In this first tour called "Lima, Ciudad de los reyes” (Lima, City of Kings), visitors will enjoy what streets and squares of the Historic Centre of Lima have to offer, reported this committee to Andina news agency.

Visitors will enjoy attractions such as the beautiful convent of Santo Domingo and its cloister, which is considered a real masterpiece of religious architecture and was the home of Peruvian Saint Martin de Porres, where their remains and Saint Rosa de Lima’s rest.

Another historical attraction included in this tour is the Cathedral of Lima, where visitors will be able to appreciate Churrigueresco style altars, and beautiful balconies, which will capture visitor’s attention.

They will also visit Lima's Main Square, the Municipality, the Government Palace, the Torre Tagle Palace, where the headquarters of the Peruvian Foreign Ministry is located, as well as the famous catacombs located in the church of San Francisco. They will also visit Peru’s Gold Museum, located in the district of Monterrico, among others.

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Asia-Pacific leaders to pay official visits to Peru on APEC Summit sidelines

Peruvian Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Mercedes Araoz announced late Tuesday that eight Asia-Pacific leaders will pay official visits to Peru on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit starting in Lima on November 20.
The leaders of the United States, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Canada and Australia, among other APEC economies, will come to Peru on official visits next week.

In addition, the Peruvian foreign trade minister mentioned that during the official visits, which include meetings with president Alan García Pérez, major announcements are expected to be made in the trade and investment fields.

She noted that the first leader to arrive in Peru’s capital Lima will be Chinese president Hu Jintao, who will be accompanied by a delegation of entrepreneurs who have shown great interest in investing in Peru.

Minister Araóz also pointed out that during the U.S. president George W. Bush's visit to Peru, it is expected to announce the full implementation of the free trade deal between both counties, starting on January 1st 2009.

Moreover, she said it is expected that president García will announce a bilateral free trade pact with China and the start of negotiations for a similar trade deal with Korea.

News Source: Andina

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APEC holiday to bring 60,000 tourists to La Libertad, Ica and Lima

Living in Peru
Jobana Soto

The national government declared November 20-22 as non-working days for the provinces of Lima and Callao due to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum said the Regional Director of Foreign Trade and Tourism Emilio Diaz.

Diaz added that over 50,000 tourists will use the time to explore several attractions in the Limean provinces like national museums, cultural exhibits and beaches. La Libertad and Ica will also see an increase of tourism.

Employees who take off during APEC holidays are responsible to make up for lost work hours as the government will not recognize these days as paid holidays. 

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Asia Pacific entrepreneurs to set recommendations for APEC Leaders

The fourth meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), made up of business representatives from the 21 member economies of the Forum of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), will take place in Lima between November 17 and 20. At the end of the meeting they will formulate recommendations for the APEC leaders, who will gather in Lima on November 21 and 22.

ABAC's chairman, Juan Francisco Raffo, reported today that the main role of this council is to provide recommendations on interest topics for the participating economies with the aim of leading the efforts to achieve a free trade area.

"These recommendations are given to the leaders during the APEC Leaders’ Summit. They will be discussed in a meeting among business leaders and presidents, scheduled for Saturday, November 22", he said.
 
In addition, Raffo stressed the importance of economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region as a way for market development and expansion.

News source: Andina

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APEC SME Summit to address globalization & financial crisis

The Second Summit of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, will take place on November 17 addressing measures to help SME cope with globalization and international financial crisis, reported Tuesday the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).

Focusing on: "Opportunities and Challenges for SMEs in the framework of APEC" the SME Summit is expected to bring together over 800 small and medium entrepreneurs of the Asia Pacific region with the aim to discuss and establish an approach to help them cope with globalization and the international financial crisis.

The chairman of the Second APEC SME Summit, Enrique Gubbins, stated the main issues that the summit will cover in order to reduce transaction costs for these companies.

"The first is related to the process of internationalization, which is very necessary for the development of their businesses because SME must think in boosting trade and understand that their market has no boundaries", he said.

The second will address the importance of using technology to do businesses with foreign markets, having the support of Jack Ma, president of Alibaba Group, Asian business portal leader.
"The SME entrepreneurs should not be afraid of using technology because it is the means that will facilitate their businesses", Gubbins said.

He stated that Ma, who saw an opportunity where not many did, will talk about his own experience and teach the audience how to improve their capabilities.

The third point to address at the Second Summit of the APEC SME is the issue of funding.

For this reason, the executive president of the Andean Corporation Fund (CAF), Enrique Garcia, will explain the challenges and alternatives that SME entrepreneurs have, in a context of a global crisis.

The Second APEC SME Summit will be held in the convention center of the Real Felipe Fortress, located in the constitutional province of Callao, within the fourth ABAC meeting, composed of business representatives from the 21 APEC member economies, to be held in Lima between November 17th and 20th.

News source: Andina

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15 restaurants of Lima downtown to join gastronomic circuit during APEC Summit

Fifteen restaurants of Lima Historical Centre will receive the "Healthy Restaurant" certification from the Municipality of Lima, being ready to welcome visitors of the coming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit to be held in Lima next week.
In addition, other 60 restaurants have already been included in this category, that describes them as well-prepared food places, with proper conditions to receive the numerous delegations to attend this international event.

The announcement was made by the Healthy Restaurants Program of the Social Development Management of Lima’s municipality, which reported that the aim is to promote and  support food hygiene control in downtown’s tourist restaurants.

The list of new "Healthy Restaurants" will be presented in a special ceremony, after a meticulous process of hygiene, safety, and food managing control.

News Source: Andina

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