Peru reports first swine flu case; bans flights

Peruvian Health Minister Oscar Ugarte said late Wednesday that Peru has diagnosed its first case of swine flu, which appears to be the first case in Latin America confirmed outside of Mexico.

Minister Oscar Ugarte also announced the suspension of all commercial flights arriving in Peru from Mexico.

The patient diagnosed with swine flu, a 27-year-old Argentine woman who lives in California, had recently been in Mexico.

Alejandrina Coche was on a Copa Airlines flight from Panama on Tuesday that was diverted to Lima because she fell ill. It later flew to its original destination of Buenos Aires.

Ugarte said three other suspected cases in Peru were being evaluated. (Andina)

Photo: Peru's Health Minister Oscar Ugarte held a press conference on late Wednesday. Photo: ANDINA / Héctor Vinces

US investors show greater interest in Peru, says ambassador

More and more American entrepreneurs are interested in investing in Peru thanks to the country's good economic situation and free trade agreement with the United States, U.S. Ambassador to Peru, Michael McKinley said Sunday.

“Our trade office at the embassy has more work than ever, American enterprises have expressed increasing interest in Peru and several trade missions from different states visit the country,” he told Andina.

Ambassador McKinley said American companies believe Peru has an important political, economic and social stability; and they want to be ready when the global financial crisis is over so as to take advantage of the US-Peru FTA that came into effect on February 1, 2009.

“The impact of the global recession is being felt, but some American sectors cotinue to be interested in Peru as they hope that the world economy will recover,” he added.

He noted that up to now, the U.S. investment in Peru amounts to over US$ 6 billion, adding that this amount is expected to increase in the coming years with the two-way trade deal.

McKinley also pointed out that American investors do not only explore business opportunities in Peru's traditional sectors such as mining, energy or infrastructure, but also in the agro-industry and manufacturing industries. (Andina)

Photo: US Ambassador to Peru, Michael Mckinley. Photo: ANDINA/Maritza Rosales.

Peru foreign minister: Venezuelan opposition leader in Lima

Venezuelan opposition leader Manuel Rosales has arrived in the Peruvian capital of Lima on a tourist visa, Peru's Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde told CNN Tuesday.

Maracaibo Mayor Manuel Rosales, who belongs to a different political party than does Chavez, was supposed to have turned himself in to authorities on Monday but failed to appear.

Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde told CNN en Español that Rosales entered the country as a tourist and has not asked for political asylum. He has been seen in Lima, the capital, Garcia Belaunde said.

Venezuelan officials say Rosales illegally enriched himself as governor of Zulia state from 2002 to 2004.

Rosales denies the allegation and says Chavez is out to get him for political reasons.

"Since they haven't been able to take me off the political map by the electoral route, now they're using the power they have in all the movements of the public prosecutor," Rosales told CNN en Español last month.

One of Rosales' lawyers noted that Chavez said publicly in October 2008, before Rosales was charged, that he wanted the mayor in prison.

In last month's interview, Rosales called the charges that he had illegally accepted money "totally false," and said he not only declared all of his income, but paid taxes on it.

Katiuska Plaza, district attorney for Zulia state, said in a 26-count complaint last month that Rosales illegally enriched himself in 2002 and 2004.

Rosales called the district attorney's actions "a manipulation," and said the prosecutor "is acting on Chavez's orders."

There was no immediate comment from the Venezuelan government concerning Rosales' whereabouts. (Andina)

Photo: Peruvian Minister for Foreign Affairs Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde. Photo: ANDINA / Rafael Cornejo.

Minister Araoz launches Peru Moda 2009 today

Peruvian Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Mercedes Araoz, will launch today the 12th edition of Peru Moda 2009, the main event of the Peruvian fashion industry to be held on April 22-24.

Minister Araoz will also announce the launch of Peru Gift Show, the main Gift and Decoration trade show in Peru and one of the most important shows in Latin America.

Both events are organized by the Peruvian Export Promotion Agency (Prompex).

In this 12th edition, Peru Moda will have the participation of more than 400 export companies of the Peruvian fashion industry, and more than 500 import companies from United States, European Union, Latin America and Asia.

This event provides the direct contact between Peruvian companies with potential clients; as well as renowned local companies and professionals related to trade and fashion.

Meanwhile, the 11th edition of Peru Gift Show will include the participation of more than 130 export companies from Peru and more than 140 import companies from the United States, European Union, Latin America and Asia. Local companies, traders and professionals of good standing will also attend the show.

Today's launching ceremony will be held at 11:30 hrs. (16:30 GMT) at the Plaza Fashion of Larcomar Shopping Center in Miraflores. (Andina)

Chinese investors interested in Huanuco's silk production

A Chinese business delegation will visit on Saturday the central Peruvian region of Huanuco to explore investment opportunities in mulberry tree cultivation and silkworm breeding, said Huanuco governor Jorge Espinoza Egoavil.

Governor Espinoza explained that a group of Chinese investors are interested in producing silk from 14,000 hectares of Mulberry tree plantings in Huanuco and then sell it to the Chinese market.

He mentioned that the delegation includes officials from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Ministries of Agriculture and Foreign Trade as well as representatives from Chinese company Guangdong Silk.

Espinoza said the company’s representatives will meet local authorities and then will get to see first hand the silk production activities during their visit to the Daniel Alomía Robles town in Tingo Maria province. (Andina)

Photo: Huanuco city. Photo: ANDINA / Gobierno regional de Huánuco

Peru International Reserves totaled $30.92 billion by March 31

Peru’s Net International Reserves (NIR) amounted to 30.929 billion dollars by March 31, 2009, 1.517 billion more than February’s closing, the Peruvian Central Reserve Bank (BCR) reported today.

BCR said the level of reserves have recovered in the course of this month, surpassing again the 30 billion dollars.

This level of BCR’s foreign reserves is equivalent to 13 months of imports, 5 times the initial issue amount and 1.6 times the foreign public debt.

Regarding BCR’s foreign exchange position, it was 20.334 billion dollars by March 31, which represents 507 million more than figure registered at the end of February.

Between March 24 and 31, the daily average of the corporate interest rate, on 90-day term, decreased from 6.69 to 6.60 percent in the domestic currency, while this rate in dollars dropped from 3.01 to 2.96 percent.

So far in March, the daily average of interbank interest rate in national currency has been 6.08 percent, lower than February’s average (6.44 percent).

On March 31, the interbank interest rate in domestic currency was 6.00 percent. (Andina)