Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

The fountain park located at Parque de la Reserva in Lima was the meeting point for congressional representatives, ministers and high-ranking authorities on Thursday evening as the EU-LAC business summit came to a close.

The newly built modern park, which has been recognized as the largest fountain park in the world by the Guinness Book of Records, was the site where a special reception and show was held to signal the close of the business summit.

The mayor of Lima, Luis Castañeda along with the Municipality of the district hosted a spectacular show with the help of Telefonica del Peru.

Mayor Castañeda proved to be an excellent host and showed guests a sensational show, which included an incredible light show accompanied by an amazing water spectacle.

In addition, a laser show, a live orchestra and a contemporary dance performance left the audience in awe and asking for more.

Unfortunately, the spectacle was a one-time event that Lima's residents may not be able to enjoy. As soon as guests began to leave, the stage and all props were taken down and removed from the park.

The owner and general manager of Living in Peru affirmed that the entire event was extremely well organized and the mayor had covered every detail.

"Aside from an excellent show, delicious and traditional Peruvian foods were served. The pisco sour was excellent, one of the best I've ever had in Peru," said our general manager.

Coming from a man that knows his Pisco and truly loves and appreciates the Peruvian cocktail, this is complement hard to come by.

He added, "Mayor Castañeda did an excellent job. Let's see what the mayor of Miraflores has in store for us tonight."

With "Noche en Blanco" being held this evening, it is now Miraflores' turn to put on a show for the EU-LAC guests and Peru's residents in general.

Let's see how they do.

(LIP-do) -- The Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Chilean José Miguel Insulza, rejected the notion that the maritime border demand presented by Peru at the World Court at Hague, will not affect the bilateral relations between Lima and Santiago.

"It's a topic which is sitting in The Court and, definitively, I don't think it will affect each countries normal bilateral relations. Peru and Chile have rich and dense relations; each time they become more solidified in regards to economic development."

This past January, Peru arrived at the International Court of Justice at Hague to look for an end the maritime border dispute with Chile, which has limits not established in a treaty. Santiago sustains that the situation is settled because of the 1952 and 1954 accords.

"There exists things that unite both countries and I don't think that one single topic can reroute these relations from their path," stated Insulza.

He rejected the discrepancies that exist among Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador that could destabilize the region and said that he's sure "common sense will win out".

The Chilean diplomat was consulted on the protest in Colombia against Nicaragua for the use of a small military place to fly into its territory on a diplomatic mission but instead was used to transport two suspected women who belonged to FARC.

He rejected that this topic would affect the development of the V Summit of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean (EU-LAC) in Lima

"The fact that all the presidents are present here is a good sign. We will analyze the situation within the next week and look for alternative solutions."

Finally, he highlighted the organization of the V EU-LAC Summit.

"I've participated in a great number of summits. I won't name any in particular, but they've been very chaotic. This summit in Lima is very organized. You arrive everywhere and on time, and that's very important. Each summit to come should be organized in the same manner," he pointed out.


News Source: Andina

(LIP-do) -- The Lima Declaration which should be signed today by the Heads of State and Government of the V Europen Union, Latin America and the Caribbean (EU-LAC) Summit will address EU-LAC people's political priorities. "We will actively pursue the negotiations of Association Agreements as common strategic objectives of very high political piority", say EU-LAC leaders in the document.

Also, they reaffirm their commitment to the principles and values that support their biregional relationship, as well as to the shared objectives, commitments and joint positions adopted from Rio de Janeiro to Vienna.

They also congratulate successful implementation of the Association Agreements between Mexico and Chile and the EU.

EU-LAC leaders also welcomed the ongoing efforts to reach an agreement between the European Union and Central America.

"In this sense we recall the importance of regional integration as recognised in the Vienna Summit and we acknowledge with satisfaction the positive results achieved so far".

News Source: Andina

(LIP-do) -- Businesses from the commercial emporium Gamarra has, as of this moment, reach agreements with 20 foreign businesses to export its products since the beginning of the I Confectionery Fair Gamarra 2008, which has coincided with the V European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean Summit (EU-LAC) Summit, confirmed the President of the Economy of said fair, Hugo Parduvé.

Parduvé said that the businessmen, coming from countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Brasil, Chile, Bolivia and the United States, "have demonstrated that they're impressed by the high quality of our textiles and the competitiveness that the pieces could have in their markets."

During the I Confectionery Fair Gamarra 2008, which began on May 12 and will conclude this Sunday, more than 150 stands have been installed throughout the three blocks on Sebastián Barranca Street in La Victoria. They're displaying their best products with the mission of promoting during the international summit.

"Since the fair was inaugurated four days ago, we're accomplished a series of business meetings and as of right now, we've closed deals with 20 foreign businesses to export our products," Parduvé told Andina news.

He mentioned that later today, he would meet with three Cuban representatives and a representative from the United States Embassy.

"This Monday we'll have a round of meetings with businesses from Belgium. Also, 13 students from the University of Nebraska (U.S.) will study the phenomenon occurring at Gamarra and will use this example in their country," he confirmed.

The fair has received close to 400 thousand visitors, similar to how the emporium is during the holiday shopping season.

Businesses at Gamarra have commented that their sales have increased approximately 30 percent, especially with seasonal products such as jackets, sweaters and pants.

News Source: Andina

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz


Vereinigte BioEnergie AG, a Germany-based holding company that primarily produces biodiesel and bioethanol to deliver to European petroleum companies, has agreed to work on the development of an irrigation project in the southern provinces of Cañete and Chincha.

The German company, which produces 450,000 tons of biodiesel and 300,000 of bioethanol a year, made an agreement with Compania Electrica El Platanal (Celepsa).

The two companies have planned to irrigate and work 27,000 hectares of uncultivated land in Cañete and Chincha, two provinces south of Lima.

With this new project, two of Chincha's most agricultural areas will be expanded by the private companies.

It was reported that Celepsa had already presented the project to Peru’s Private Investment Promotion Agency (Pro Inversion), explaining that a reservoir would create a surplus of water and provide the necessary irrigation to cultivate the unused land.

According to Pedro Lerner Rizo Patron, the general manager of Celepsa, his company and Vereinigte BioEnergie AG will invest $400 million in the project if it is approved by Pro Inversion.

If authorized, the project would begin at the beginning of 2010.

Food prices focus at Peru summit

Leaders from 50 European, Latin American and Caribbean nations are meeting in Peru to address poverty and the rise in world food prices. There have been few signs of compromise in trade negotiations ahead of the summit. Talks will be held in private. Simmering regional conflicts in Latin America threaten to overshadow any final agreement. (BBC News - click here to read complete article by Dan Collyns)


EU and Mercosur address trade accord in Peru

Negotiations for an association, trade and cooperation agreement between the European Union and Mercosur are in stand by waiting for results from the World Trade Organization, Doha round, said the European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso. According to the EC head, members of Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) have said that the “priority now is a successful conclusion of the Doha negotiations”. (Merco Press - click here to read complete article)


Chile retailer Falabella sticks to investment plans

Chile's Falabella, one of the region's largest retailers, said on Thursday slower global economic growth is not affecting its investment plans. Falabella FAL.SN, with operations in Chile, Argentina, Colombia and Peru, has not altered plans to invest some $2.86 billion over the next four years. (Reuters - click here to read complete article)


OLPC XO Notebook gets Windows XP Version

Microsoft seems intent on getting its Windows Operating system into the hands of people all over the world, including children in poor and undeveloped countries. Microsoft and the OLPC have teamed up to put Windows XP on the XO laptop. To date one of the largest orders for the XO came from Peru. It’s possible that some countries are waiting to see how Peru’s program goes with the XO before they place orders. (I4U News - click here to read complete article by Shane McGlaun)


Return from Peru

Fourteen Sacred Heart High School students recently returned to campus from Peru. The students, who were accompanied by five adults traveled to a remote village as part of a friendship mission which included respite care for orphanage workers and volunteer work with children and also at the local hospital. (Wicked Local - click here to read complete article)

(LIP-do) -- Peru's Private Investment Promotion Agency (ProInversion) estimates that 15 billion dollars will be invested in the mining sector in exploration projects in the next five or six years, said today the agency's executive director, David Lemor.

During the opening ceremony of the First Investment Forum and Business Round of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean (EU-LAC), Lemor indicated that each year exploration projects increase considerably in number and extension in the country. He added that investment in mining exploration reached 475 million dollars last year.

The mineral richness of the Peruvian subsoil offers opportunities to explore and develop projects, but only ten percent of the Peru’s mining potential has been explored and six percent has been exploited, he added.

Lemor also pointed out that the energy sector, hydrocarbons and the petrochemical development calls the interest of worldwide investors considering that Peru has reserves and excellent conditions for development of gas and petrochemical industries.

“We have the only source of natural gas in the South American Pacific region. The Camisea field with 13.40 trillion square feet (TCF) of proved reserves and it is even indicated the existence of higher reserves”, he added.

In news also related to Peru's economic situation, Chilean president, Michelle Bachelet, said that her country is “very pleased” by the performance of Peruvian economy, since this will allow Peru to face the challenges in the current international context, during an intermission of the Plenary Session of the V Summit of Heads of State and Government of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean (EU-LAC).

Furthermore, Bachelet stated the opening speech made by Peru’s president, Alan García, was “splendid” since it reflected the need to seek concrete goals to solve the main problems which affect every country. The Chilean president said she wishes that EU-LAC leaders will establish “specific goals” by the end of this summit.

Bachelet arrived yesterday in Lima to be part of the V EU-LAC Summit and held a business meeting today with his Bolivian counterpart, Evo Morales.


News Source: Andina

Suez pushes Peru natgas pipeline

France's Suez is willing to be flexible over where it builds a natural gas pipeline in Peru and is confident its merger with Gaz de France is on track, a company executive said on Thursday. The energy and water group originally expressed an interest in investing more than $800 million to build a natural gas pipeline linking the Andean country's Camisea field with its southern provinces via the Pacific coast. It would recoup the investment by operating the pipeline. (Reuters - click here to read complete article by Dana Ford)


Chariot Resources on track for Peru feasibility study, despite 'modest' delay

Toronto-based Chariot Resources may need a little extra time to complete a feasibility study on its 70%-owned Mina Justa copper project, in Peru, after “modest” delays in completing an updated mine plan. However, all other key elements of the study, which CEO Ulli Rath said earlier this year would be completed in the second quarter, were progressing on schedule, the firm said in a statement. (Mining Weekly - click here to read complete article by Liezel Hill)


Southwestern sells troubled Boka gold project

Southwestern Resources Corp said on Friday it will sell its scandal-ridden Boka Project to Hong Kong East China Non-Ferrous International Mineral Development Co for $9.4 million, nearly one year after saying it could have much less gold than first reported. In events that echoed the notorious Bre-X gold mining fraud of the late 1990s, Southwestern withdrew previously announced assay results last July because of errors it found in the data. (Reuters - click here to read complete article)

(LIP-do) -- The Heads of State and Government started discussions on the working agenda of the V Summit of European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean (EU-LAC), after the official photo of EU-LAC leaders was taken at the front of the National Museum.

After participating in the official group photo, the heads of state and government started to hold four round tables covering topics related to poverty, social inclusion, sustained development, environment, climate change and energy.

Presidents also agreed to discuss “any additional topic” they decide to include in the working groups.

At 13:00 hours (18:00 GMT), the heads of state and government are scheduled to attend the official lunch which will take place at the Main Dining Room.


News Source: Andina

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz


In an effort to show how modern technology can improve living standards in Peru, the Andean nation's Association of Internet Users has organized events for the celebration of Internet Day.

According to the Communication Initiative Network, Internet Day, or Dia de Internet, emerged on the initiative of the Association of Internet Users and was first organized on October 25, 2005.

To further support the initiative, in November 2005, the United Nations established that World International Telecommunications and Information Society Day, which has the same objectives as Internet Day, would be celebrated every May 17.

Peru's central government and regional governments across the country, along with municipalities, schools, technological institutes, private companies and the press will all be celebrating Internet Day on Saturday.

The president of Telefonica del Peru, Javier Manzanares and representatives from the country's Ministry of Transportation and Communications as well as officials from Peru's telecommunications regulatory agency (OSIPTEL) will be present at this year's event.

Helping people with disabilities access the Internet is the main topic to be discussed at this year's event.

The history of the Internet in Peru, Using the Internet for public safety, and How small businesses can benefit from the Internet are other topics that will also be presented.

The conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and be held at the Telefonica del Peru auditorium located at 1155 Arequipa Avenue.