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APEC and EU-LAC Peru 2008 Summits - Daily Update

Peru hopes to resolve differences with Ecuador and Bolivia to implement FTA with US

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© Andina

(LIP-do) -- Peru’s minister of Foreign Affairs, José Antonio García Belaunde, stated today he trusts Ecuador and Bolivia will allow change of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN) Decision 486, which affects implementation of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with United States. García Belaunde said he had talked with Ecuador’s Foreign minister, María Isabel Salvador about this topic and there will be no difficulty about Peruvian proposal to amend the aforesaid decision.

He added that he expects to have a meeting today with his Bolivian counterpart, David Choquehuanca. Both ministers are attending the 38º Regular Session of the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly which is held in Medellin, Colombia. “We have talked about this issue with Ecuador and I will do the same with Bolivia”, said García Belaunde to a local news radio.

The Peruvian proposal to amend Decision No. 486 is a requirement in intellectual property, which will allow it to adapt its legislation to the demands of the FTA with U.S.; however, Bolivia and Ecuador have questioned the Peru - U.S agreement and have expressed its refusal to accept the above-mentioned amendment.

News Source: Andina

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German investment in Peru to triple with Merkel’s visit

(LIP-do) -- Peruvian Foreign Minister, José Antonio García Belaunde, said that German investment in Peru will triple thanks to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to our nation which attracted 400 million in investment from her country.
"If figures are correct, German investment in Peru was too small, we talk about 160 or 180 million dollars. However, Chancellor Merkel came and facilitated a $ 400 million investment project in our country, investments have tripled in just one visit," he highlighted.

García Belaunde said he hopes this cooperation will continue after such an important visit. "Chancellor Merkel’s visit can open new German investment opportunities which are highly concentrated in other countries," he added.
 
One of the agreements signed during Merkel’s visit was an investment project designed to develop El Platanal hydroelectric power plant located in the provinces of Cañete and Yauyos, southern Lima.

This new investment project is expected to generate near six thousand jobs during the construction period and post completion.

When asked about Brazilian investments in Peru, Peruvian FM García Belaunde said that they have just started and will be boosted with a businessmen meeting to take place in Sao Paulo.

News Source: Andina

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EU-LAC Investment Forum would attract one billion dollars for Peru

(LIP-do) -- Peru could receive one-billion dollar investments as a result of the I Investment Forum held last week in the framework of the V Summit of Heads of State and Government of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean (EU-LAC), said the executive director of the Private Investment Promotion Agency (ProInversión), David Lemor.
He added he is confident that this number will increase over time.

"During the I Investment Forum organized in the framework of the EU-LAC Summit, we have called the attention of 200,000 world business leaders, who came to this event and we have set up over 500,000 business meetings", he said to Andina news agency.

He said that we are already seeing the initial results of this international summit organized by Peru, attended by almost 60 Heads of State and Government from the two continents.

"We are starting to see the results and we are already negotiationg with EU-LAC private enterprises, so as to attract one-billion dollar investments to Peru", he said.

He added that this number is one of the first benefits brought by international summit, held at the Museo de la Nacion.

"We are talking about lots of investments, for example in developing new sugar cane plantations for biofuels. Some countries are also interested in participating in an industrial park in Lurin to take advantages of the gas pipeline that will come from Pisco.

Lemor said that the financial sector would also attract investments and that some real estate agreements have been reached.

News Source: Andina

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Peruvian President praises police efforts during EU-LAC Summit

(LIP-do) -- Peruvian president Alan García Perez said today that the excellent work done by Peruvian National Police during the V EU-LAC Summit is a huge pride for our country and highlighted police efforts in providing safety for foreign leaders and delegates who attend the event.

"Peruvian police has done a great job, they have ensured the safety of more than 40 heads of state and 20 senior officials from diverse countries," said García after  paying a posthumous homage to motorcycle police officer, Lady Rosario Anaya Gómez, who died yesterday while escorting a Bolivian delegation’s motorcade.

The Peruvian leader underscored that Peruvians should feel proud for the outstanding work National Police has done. He mentioned that in countries like Italy and the United States there were some problems that disrupted a similar summit.

Anaya Gómez, 22, died Saturday morning when her motorcycle crashed while she was riding with a Bolivian delegation's motorcade at the intersection of Javier Prado Avenue and Jorge Basadre Avenue in the Limean district of San Isidro.

News Source: Andina

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EU-LAC Summit Peru: Vehicles restrictions near venues end

(LIP-do) -- Little by little, the vehicle restrictions established in zones surrounding venues and hotels accommodating the over 60 international leaders who attended the V Summit of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean (EU-LAC) held this past week, were ended.

This could be seen during the afternoon hours in the surrounding areas of the Museo de la Nación and the National Library, the first being the main headquarters of the summit and the second being the International Center for the Press.

The removable gates, which only accredited people or residents of the area could pass through, where installed for security measures on the important avenues surrounding the venues, such as Av. Canada and San Luis. These restrictions don't exist anymore.

Chief of Traffic Police, Colonel Carlos Vega, informed today that Javier Prado was opened a few hours ago.

The same is occurring in the district of Miraflores. There, for example, the gates that surrounded the Hotel Marriot, were also taken down. The hotel, one of the most luxurious in the capital, was were many of the delegates attending the summit stayed.

According to Vega, traffic flow should return entirely back to normal by the morning of May 18.

News Source: Andina

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EU-LAC Summit Peru: Ecuador's Correa says Andean countries can join "flexible" agreement with EU

(LIP-do) -- Ecuador’s president Rafael Correa said today that the Andean countries can joina  “flexible" association agreement with the Union European, after its approval, at the meeting of the Andean bloc with the European Troika to conclude the negotiations

In a press conference at the International Press Center of the EU-LAC Summit, Correa said the approval of this agreement is an important "beginning point".

Correa explained that the Andean countries can participate in certain aspects of the agreement according to their best interests which shows a flexible legal framework.

"The problem was how far the disintegration process would go, we couldn't reach an agreement on that so it will be the task for our delegates and negotiators", Correa added.

"This Association Agreement will include political, cooperative and trade pillars. Each country will decide in which they want to take part," added Ecuador's Rafael Correa.

"What we have discussed is the possibility of having also some flexibility on trade issues," he added.

News Source: Andina

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EU-LAC Summit Peru: Morales wants negotiations between Europe and Bolivia

(LIP-do) -- President of Evo Morales, affirmed this afternoon that he wishes his country to participate in negotiations to establish an agreement between the European Union (EU) and the Andean Community (CAN).

“Our great wish is that there be negotiations. I've asked that they don't marginalize or exclude Bolivia, like other Presidents have mentioned is the case”, he said at a press conference at the Museo de la Nación.

“We hope that the EU can understand us. I'm not asking to repair damages from more than 500 years ago (during colonial times), but it's important to find equality and justice for our towns.[

He stated that in this sense, it's necessary that a clear, commercial negotiation take place. “We want a just commerce and the Free Trade Agreements aren't good for our towns.”

He re-stated that Latin American presidents, especially those of CAN, can't privatize basic services, those of which are non-negotiable and belong to nature.

“You can't sell our natural resources. We have an obligation, as presidents, to hear our towns, so that we can negotiate with Europe in collective manner,”he emphasized.

News Source: Andina

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EC President Barroso says visiting Machu Picchu, Peru was an amazing experience

(LIP-do) --  European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, said his visit to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, located 120 km from Cusco, was an “amazing experience”.

Portugal's former prime minister, José Manuel Barroso, arrived Thursday morning in Machu Picchu at 07:00 am accompanied by his wife Margarita, a delegation of European officials, and a heavy police escort.

The head of the Archeological Park of Machu Picchu, Fernando Astete, gave the visiting delegation a guided tour explaining details about the ruins of the ancient citadel, chosen last year as one of the new seven wonders of the world.

“Machu Picchu is a World Heritage. It has been a great experience, amazing, I have never seen anything alike” Barroso told Andina news agency.

The European authority arrived Wedesday in Cusco, a city located 1089 km. southeast of Lima. Cusco's mayor, Marina Sequeiros, and regional director of the National Institute of Culture, Jorge Zegarra, welcomed José Manuel Barroso at the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport.

Slovakian foreign minister An Kubis and Hungarian FM Kinga Goncz arrived this morning in Cusco for a visit of the ancient citadel. They're a few among the many of international leaders who visited Machu Picchu during the world summit.

News Source: Andina

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Spain, Italy and Netherlands represent 64% of Peru's exports to EU

(LIP-do) -- Peruvian exports to the European Union (EU) reached 1.12 billion dollars in the first quarter of the year, while 64 percent of which were concentrated by Spain, Italy and Netherlands. These percentage are bigger than the 46 percent reported in the same period last year, said the Exporters' Association (Adex) reported.
 
The high concentration of these three countries was driven by their imports of Peruvian minerals: copper and zinc in the case of Spain; copper and lead, in Italy; and copper and molybdenum, in the Netherlands.

However, no one can deny the relevance of non-traditional products such as asparagus, piquillo pepper, giant squids, squids and paprika (Spain); giant squids, squids and t-shirts (Italy); and mangoes, asparagus, carburettors, grapes and bananas (Netherlands).

The exporters' association also reported that exports in the first quarter to that trading union (US$ 1155 million 595 thousand) were 22% more than the same period last year, when the amount was US$ 943 million 626 thousand.

The number of destination countries reached 27, led by Spain, which represented 25% of the total (US$ 290 million 125 thousand), followed by Italy, with 22% , and Netherlands, with 17%.

It should be mentioned that these three countries had a positive growth that enabled them to increase their level of participation in the total. Spain grew by 76%, Italy did so in 80%, and the Netherlands in 47%.

Other countries also showing positive rates, even though their participation is not very significant, are Romania (158%), Hungary (106%), Austria (228%), Cyprus (85%) and Malta (4213%). The new market was Slovakia.

Adex participated with a booth at the Business Round of the First EU-LAC Investment and Business Round Forum to be held on May 16 at the Country Club.

The booth will promote the contact of our partners with foreign visitors, the image of our country and the strategic alliance in sectors such as mining and energy, infrastructure and agribusiness.

News Source: Andina

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Peruvian President: CAN and EU reach framework for association agreement

(LIP-do) -- The Heads of State and Government of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN) and the European Union (EU) today reached a flexible framework for signing an association agreement between the two blocs, during the "mini summit" held this morning, announced Peruvian president Alan García.

"As a result of the dialogue between the two blocs, I can say that we have reached a draft framework agreement to be improved on June 12, when negotiators of both blocs will meet for the last time, and  hopefully then, we can file this document to the EU and CAN for its approval".

"The countries from both blocs agree on having a flexible framework covering three main topics", said Garcia showing his satisfaction for the conclusions reached at this morning's meeting.

García mentioned that trade is one of the key topics in the flexible framework which also includes topics such as tariff reduction, opening of trade markets, among others.

“Today we have taken an important step forward, European Union and CAN countries have finally agreed on a framework agreement”, García pointed out. The Peruvian leader highlighted Ecuador’s positive attitude toward said agreement, while Bolivia showed certain resistance.

The Peruvian leader highlighted Ecuador’s positive attitude towards said agreement, while Bolivia showed certain resistance.

News Source: Andina

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