Living in Peru : your everyday companion

III Round of Negotiations of FTA with China to be held from May 12-16 in Beijing

The III Round of Negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Peru and China will be carried out from May 12 to 16 in Beijing, China, informed the ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur). According to the programmed schedule, the environment meeting and the intellectual property rights meeting will be carried out on May 12 and May 14 to 15 respectively. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


President García inaugurates new Containers Terminal construction works

Peruvian president Alan García participated today in the Foundation stone laying ceremony of the Containers Terminal “Muelle Sur”, located at Callao port, in Lima. He also will have a meeting at 12:00 hours (17:00 GMT) with DP Ports representatives at the Government Palace. The Press Secretary of Peru’s Republic also stated that at 16:00 hours (21:00 GMT), García will participate in the ceremony to grant the concession of the electric transmission lines Mantaro-Caraveli-Montalvo and Machu Picchu-Cotaruse. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Portuguese Pestana Hotel Group would invest in Peru

Pestana, the largest Portuguese hotel group, has identified South America as priority business area, so it is analyzing its possible access to Peru, announced the ambassador of Portugal to Lima, Mario Lino Da Silva. “This group has focused the majority of its investments in this region and, of course, Peru is inside the area that is being analyzed”, he told Andina news agency. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz


Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos affirmed that the political and economic model President Alan Garcia was following was an example to the entire South American region.

The Spanish Minister, who is on a tour of several Ibero-American countries, made these statements to the media after meeting with Peru's president at the Government Palace in Lima.

He affirmed that the model Peru was following in pursuit of economic and democratic progress was "a model that Spain believes in, that Spain supports, and which Spain has hope in".

"It is a model that is useful to the entire region," Moratinos said.

The Foreign Minister's visit to Peru came after Alan Garcia's official visit to Spain, in which the two countries consolidated a strategic relationship in several fields.

Peru's president visited Spain this year near the end of January.

Garcia stated that he hoped the friendship between Peru and Spain would be much more fruitful and productive in the future, explaining that he hoped to see more Spanish investments in Peru.

Because of companies such as Telefonica, Repsol-YPF, Cepsa and Endesa, as well as an investment in Peru of over €3.2 billion, it was reported that Span is the country's main investor.

Foreign companies to invest over US$ 120 million in biofuel production this year

Three companies of Spain, two of United States and one of Germany would invest in Peru for more than 120 million dollars in the biofuel production this year, reported the president of Sierra Exportadora, Gastón Benza Pflucker. According to Benza Pflucker, these companies were able to sow, produce and supply the national demand with biofuel products since February, but they had the difficulty to conclude arrangements for renting or buying lands in Peru. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


43 large companies to be opened in three months, says President Garcia

Peruvian president Alan García announced that 43 large companies will be opened in Peru in the next three months, generating more jobs and better working conditions. During the ceremony to open a Kimberly Clark plant in Puente Piedra, Garcia stressed that this company meets all international labor standards. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Jobs in Peruvian export industry to boost 10 % this year

Jobs in the Peruvian export industry will increase between seven and ten percent this year due to the exports growth to different foreign markets, the president of Peruvian Exporters’ Association (Adex) José Luis Silva stated today. Silva pointed out that this growth would be mainly impelled by the agro industrial sector which leads non-traditional exports. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Peruvian cooper production to rise 15% this year

It is estimated that Peru would increase its copper production by 15 % in 2008 due to an increased production capacity of Peru-based mining companies, said the president of the National Society of Mining, Petroleum, and Energy (SNMPE), Ysaac Cruz, “Copper producing companies are increasing their production volume, mainly the Mining Society Cerro Verde”, he said. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


More than 400 US companies are represented in Peru

More than 400 US companies are represented in Peru and the relationship between the two countries continues growing and strengthening because they share the same principles of democracy, economic freedom and entrepreneurship, the US ambassador to Peru Michael Mckinley said today. About 16,000 American citizens live in Peru and about 200 thousand visit the country yearly to do businesses, tourism or to study. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Global warming isn't all bad, affirmed the CEPICAFE, an organization that represents over 6,000 coffee, cocoa, and organic sugar producers from Peru's northern regions.

According to the association, which represents farmers from regions such as Piura, Tumbes, Cajamarca and Amazonas, there are many opportunities that have presented themselves now that consumers are more concerned about where their products are grown and how this affects the environment.

Because of the importance many foreign countries place on the environment and how products are produced, the organization has joined with a Dutch importation company and will focus on selling environmentally friendly chocolates.

The new alliance is to start selling on the West coast of the United States, said Santiago Paz, a manager for CEPICAFE, explaining that the focus was to provide a quality product and increase the added value to benefit the area where the products were produced.

The company's mission is to convince consumers to pay more not just for a quality chocolate but to improve the environment where the product is produced.

For example, in an effort to reduce global warming, CEPICAFE will plant a cocoa tree for every bar of chocolate that is sold.

CEPICAFE has affirmed that it has the highest quality cocoa in the world to attract exclusive customers willing to pay an extra price for fine chocolate and environmental conservation.

The new business has already had its criollo beans, also known as "porcelain cocoa" because of the white pulp it contains, valued at almost double the market price.

This has broken records for the price of cocoa in Peru.

This type of cocoa tree, which is being grown in northern Peru as well as other parts of the world, makes up less than 4 percent of the worldwide production.

The type of cocoa produced with the beans has been described as fine and highly aromatic with a gentle taste that is not too bitter and long-lasting in taste.

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Wearing a black dress with Andean designs, Peru's Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Mercedes Araoz, kicked off Peru's most important trade show, Peru Moda.

Peru Moda, which has generated over $100 million in the past two years, was inaugurated on Wednesday evening at Jockey Plaza Convention Center, which is next to the upscale Lima mall.

Once on the runway, an excited Araoz welcomed national and international designers to the event and explained that the trade show would consist of several events in which three fashion shows had been included.

The first fashion show, "Alpaca Peru", is to display work done in fine alpaca fiber, while the other two shows; "Jóvenes Creadores al Mundo 2007 – 2008" and "Colombiamoda - Leonisa" will introduce young designers and lingerie.

It is expected that 2,500 professionals and 500 representatives from the fashion industry's most important companies will be present at Peru Moda 2008.

The trade show is to take place until April 25 and will include exhibitions as well as several other activities which over 350 Peruvian companies have prepared for the event.

Representatives from the U.S., Canada, Germany, Belgium, Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Denmark, Spain, France, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Venezuela, Panama, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Russia, the U.K. and Switzerland among others are to be present.

Poverty reduced by 3% in the last 15 months, president García said

Peruvian president Alan García informed Monday that poverty in Peru has been reduced by three percent in the last 15 months, and pointed out that the economic growth for this year would be eight percent according to the projections of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCR). “In the next days, the Central Bank which announced a GDP growth of eight percent this year, which means a new record compared to other Latin America countries, will also be able to validate the international and national numbers that show that the poverty has been reduced by three percent during the last 15 months”, García said during the inauguration of the Bank Ripley. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Peru's economy to grow from 7.5% to 8% this year

The Peruvian Central Reserve Bank (BCR) increased today its growth expectation of the Peruvian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for this year, from 7.5 to eight percent, the president of the BCR stated today. “Peru's economy will grow 10.3 percent only in the first quarter of this year and will close with eight percent by the end of the year”. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Six prequalify for the concession of two new electric transmission lines

Six companies have been prequalified for the Mantaro – Caravelí – Montalvo and Machu Picchu – Cotaruse electric transmission concession, the Private Investment Promotion Agency (ProInversión) stated. Transmisión del Sur (Transur) consortium, integrated by Peruvian Graña y Montero and the Brazilian Aluzar Investimento, is the first prequalified. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

As a part of its expansion plan in the region, Procafecol, Colombia's coffee promotion agency and the owner of Tiendas Juan Valdez, will soon make its way into Peru.

The Colombian coffee company announced that it had made several agreements to have coffee tasting events as well as promote its products in Peruvian supermarkets.

According to El Espectador, a Colombian daily, it was reported that Procafecol had also reached an agreement with Chile's grupo Falabella to open stores in the country.

Furthermore, the Colombian company is to open stores in Argentina and Spain, said the daily.

The number of Juan Valdez coffee stores in Colombia doubled in the first trimester of 2008, going from 49 to 100 stores.

Aside from entering the Peruvian market, Tiendas Juan Valdez plan on opening another seven cafes in Chile, four in Spain and fifty sale centers in Argentina.

Canadian companies interested in Peru's environmental sector

Canadian business leaders plan to invest in Peru’s environmental sector given the increased interest of Peru-based companies in environment conservation and resource conservation, said Canadian ambassador to Peru, Geneviève des Rivières. Ambassador Geneviéve des Riviéres explained that when a Canadian company comes into the country, it brings its experience, but its greater contribution is the creation of more jobs. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Peru Moda 2008 designers expect sales of $850 thousand

Twenty Peruvian small enterprises that will participate at Peru Moda 2008, one of the most important fashion shows in Latin America, expect to generate sales of 850 thousand dollars. 500 foreign companies will attend Peru Moda 2008 from April 23 to 25. The 20 companies, 18 located in Lima and 2 in Arequipa, will exhibit a wide collection of alpaca and cotton garments for men and women, with a variety of designs created by a team led by Miguel Valdivia. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Peru’s olive exports rose 32% to $3.4 million in January-February 2008

Driven by a growing world demand, Peru’s olive exports totaled 3.43 million dollars in the first two months of 2008, a 32 percent increase compared to the $ 2.6 million in the same period of 2007, reported today the Peruvian Exporters’ Association (Adex). The main destination market for Peruvian olives was Brazil which accounted for $451 thousand, followed by the United States with $376 thousand, Chile ($291 thousand), Sweden, Australia, Colombia and Ecuador, among others. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Arequipa’s exports increased by 147%

he southern region of Arequipa has registered a 147 percent increase in its export volume last year, higher that the 104 percent rise registered in 2006, said the regional manager of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Rocío Cervantes Mansilla. “In 2006, Arequipa’s exports totaled 834,560 soles. Last year, exports experienced a significant growth amounting to two million 59,549 soles (which accounts for 7.5 percent of Peru's total exports). (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Peru’s President to inaugurate new pier in Talara

Peruvian president Alan García Pérez will visit the northern province of Talara (Piura), where he is to inaugurate a new fishing pier. The opening ceremony will start at 11:30 a.m. (16:30GMT) in the town of Pariñas in Talara. Earlier, at 08:00hours (13:00 GMT), Alan García inaugurated the natural gas station GNV-GNC, of the company Clean Energy of Peru. The ceremony was held between the avenues Universitaria and Materiales , at Cercado de Lima. (ANDINA - click here to see article)

Peru's fishing exports to reach $1 billion annually in three years

The Peruvian fishing exports for direct human consumption would reach 1 billion dollars annually in three or four years doubling the current registered amount of 500 million dollars a year, announced today the vice minister of Fisheries, Alfonso Miranda. “With the existing investment levels in the private sector, the technical development, and the market possibilities, we could double the fishing exports for direct human consumption in a three-year period time”, said Miranda. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Peruvian companies to close deals worth $63 million in Peru Moda 2008

Peruvian enterprises participating in fashion show Peru Moda 2008 will close deals worth 63 million dollars given that over 5000 foreign buyers will attend this show to appreciate the high-quality national products, said the Peruvian Export and Tourism Promotion Agency (Promperu). Peru Moda 2008 is considered one of the most important fashion shows in Latin America and is to take place from April 23 to 25 in Lima. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Peruvian companies participate in Chile's Expomin 2008

Twenty-two Peruvian mining companies participate in the 10th running of EXPOMIN 2008, one of the largest mining trade shows in the world held in Santiago, Chile, from April 15 - 18. Peru's large delegation participates in the EXPOMIN trade show after a gap of fourteen years. EXPOMIN is considered the largest and most important mining show gathering some 920 exhibitors and 60000 visitors this year. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Vietnam interested in buying Peruvian fishmeal

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is interested in buying Peruvian fishmeal to maintain the growth of its aquaculture production (in lakes and rivers), stated today the Vice General Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nguyen Viet Manh. He said that entrepreneurs of Vietnam’s aquaculture industry are interested in importing fishmeal directly from Peru because they have been buying it from mediators. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Peru to promote national high-quality coffee at U.S. fair

In an effort to promote Peruvian fine coffee, the Ministry of Agriculture (Minag) will participate at the 20th Annual Conference & Exhibition of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) to be held from May 2 to 5 in Minneapolis, state of Minnesota (United States). The exhibition is considered one of the main world fairs in the industry of high-quality coffee beans and where SCAA promotes sustainability within the specialty coffee industry, establishes standards and seeks the coffee of the year. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)

Peruvian GDP increased 11.92% in February 2008

Peruvian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased 11.92 percent in February 2008, the highest rate since May 1995, reporting 80 consecutive months of sustainable growth, while in the first two months of the year it grew 10.99 percent, the National Statistics and Informatics Institute (INEI) reported today. The Peruvian economy accumulates a possitive trend of 9.23 percent in the last twelve months, that is to say, the period between March 2007 and February 2008. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Peruvian agro-exports will double to over US$ 4 billion by 2011

The Ministry of Agriculture (Minag) aims to double, by 2011, the agricultural exports registered in 2007 from two billion dollars to four billion, the minister of Agriculture, Ismael Benavides stated. He said that the increase of the Peruvian agricultural exports is the result of the agro-exporters' efforts, which are rewarded with the growth of the international demand of their products. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Peru looks for freer agro-exports access to EFTA

The Fourth Round of Negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Peru and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is concluded, but Peru is still looking for a bigger economic liberalization of the countries from that bloc for Peruvian agricultural products, stated today the ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur). The vice minister of Foreign Trade Eduardo Ferreyros stated that so far Peru has achieved access for 50 percent for its agricultural products, but the idea is to have a bigger access. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)