Peru's agricultural products to enter EU market duty-free

Peru's main agricultural products will enter the European Union (EU) member countries duty-free, after the progress made in the Fourth Round of Negotiations held in Colombia in mid-June, reported the Ministry of Agriculture (Minag).

According to the Ministry’s Directorate General of Agricultural Competitiveness, the main Peruvian products will enjoy duty free entry after the EU applies some trade defense mechanisms.

Among the products are mangos, coffee, asparagus, beans, butter bean, onions, avocados, citrus, artichokes, grapes, cocoa butter and paste, passion fruit juice, mango juice, among others products with great export potential.

One of the restrictions faced by Peru in its negotiation of fresh products is the "entry price" and that is still pending final negotiations.

“Entry prices” are specific rights that the European bloc applies to imports entering with lower prices than local production and during periods of increased production.

But the Peruvian products would have no problem with this mechanism since the country grows these products when the European Union does not and the prices in this bloc are much higher because of its high quality, it added.

It also said that in the next round to be held mid-July in Lima, it is expected to conclude the negotiation on products such as bananas, poultry, rice, beef, sugar and ethanol, which are extremely sensitive to the European Union and have even been exempted from the agreement. (Andina)

Ecuador restores trade preferences to Andean countries

Starting tomorrow, Ecuador will restore trade preferences to Andean countries, benefiting Peruvian exporters who have recorded a 150 million dollar loss.

On January 19, the Peru's Foreign Trade Society (Comex I) issued Resolution 466, which allows to implement a safeguard for balance of payments, generally applicable and non-discriminatory, to imports of all nations that enter that country, including Peru.

On February 23, the CAN Secretary General started to investigate all trade barriers implemented by Ecuador to its imports; product of this research, in March 28 they authorized Ecuador to implement measures of safeguard, but without eliminating preferences of member countries of this bloc.


Ecuador has said it is going to fulfill its commitment with the Andean Community restoring trade preferences only to Andean countries, maintaining its current safeguards to the rest of the world”, said minister Aráoz.

She added Ecuador is targetting making some changes to trade barriers rules.

Safeguards to product imports implemented by Ecuador have generated a US$ 150 million loss to Peruvian enterprises. (Andina)

Lake Titicaca, Amazon Rainforest top wonders of nature ranking

Lake Titicaca and Amazon Rainforest top their respective groups in New7Wonders of Nature contest.

Lake Titicaca continues to lead Group F (lakes, rivers and waterfalls) and the Amazon River and Rainforest took first place in Group E, (Forests, National Parks and Nature Reserves).

The Colca Canyon located in Arequipa stands also second in Group D, which includes caves, rock formations and valleys.

Voting for nominees will continue through July 7, 2009. The top 77 nominees by group categories (the top 11 in each of the seven groups) will be eligible for consideration by the New7Wonders of Nature contest.

The Executive President of the Binational Autonomous Authority of Lake Titicaca (ALT) Julian Barra encouraged cybernauts to vote for this tourist attraction in order to be eligible for consideration by the New7Wonders of Nature Panel of Experts.

The selection will be announced on 21 July 2009, and the 21 Official Finalists will then enter the third and final phase to vote and choose the Official New7Wonders of Nature. (Andina)

Photo: Lake Titicaca in Puno. Photo: ANDINA / Carlos Lezama.

At least 5 foreign airlines evaluate to enter Peru market

Lima Airport Partners (LAP), Jorge Chávez International Airport operator, reported Tuesday that at least five international aircrafts are evaluating its entry to the Peruvian market amid a rising demand.

We have contacts with some airlines and although I can not reveal their names because these are only preliminary talks, we can say that the reasons of their interest is the country's good economic management and its response to the crisis," said LAP's general manager, Alejandro Daly.

Peru is currently regarded by many countries as a friendly investment environment, that is why airlines which were not interested in entering Peru in the past, now are willing to open routes in the country.

"Airlines planning to enter Peru are seeking to expand connectivity from Lima to other parts of the world, where we still do not have direct flights," he said.

Peru -he said- needs to develop its air connectivity with Asia, but also with Europe, mainly to some cities such as Paris (France), London (England), Frankfurt (Germany) and Milan ( Italy).

"In these places there is a strong demand, both business and tourism needs to be addressed immediately," he said. (Andina)

Photo: Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru.

PeruRail likely to provide tourist services in Lake Titicaca in late 2010

PeruRail, a railway operator providing tourist, freight, and charter services in southern Peru, plans to launch luxury tourist services in Lake Titicaca in Puno in late 2010 aboard the 89-year-old English ship Ollanta, the company’s general manager Armando Pareja reported.

He explained that this ship is part of the property transferred by the Empresa Nacional de Ferrocarriles (Enafer) to Ferrocarril Transadino (Fetransa), concessionaire of Peru's southern and southeastern railways, which in turn handed them over to PeruRail with the operation of the trains in this region.

"This is a highly prized project for PeruRail, which will require an investment of between six and eight million dollars only in the restoration process, and we plan to finish it by the end of 2010," Pareja said.

He commented that so far the ship is in a dry dock, after having gone through works to ensure its survivability and direction as well as the change in the metal plates.

"In the coming weeks, we will return the boat to the lake to verify and fix the propulsion and control systems so it can operate under optimal conditions," Pareja said.

He noted that the project’s most expensive phase is remodeling the cabins because the aim is to regain the image of the ship in its original conditions.

"It will have 45 cabins, some with private bath, as well as a wooden deck, among other places," Pareja explained.

He said that PeruRail’s intention is to make first the restoration of the main deck and public areas because they will offer in a first phase daily tours, but tourists will not stay overnight on the boat.

"If tourism is developed in the area as it is expected, then we move to the second phase of the project, which is to develop tour packages for three days and two nights," Pareja added. (Andina)

US Congress offers support for Peruvian Amazonia land disputes

The United States Government and Congress will support Peru in finding a solution through dialogue, with indigenous communities regarding the improvement of the Forestry and Wildlife Law, which is essential for the for the implementation of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) reported Friday.

Clashes between security forces trying to dislodge indigenous groups blocking routes and waterways in the northern province of Amazonia left a toll of twenty-four policemen and nine civilians dead. Indigenous groups are protesting the granting of land to foreign corporations for logging and mineral resources exploration.

“The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and US Congress members said they understand Peru’s position and they promised to support us to find solutions through dialogue with indigenous communities” Peruvian Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Mercedes Araoz reported.

She said that a multi-sector delegation of technicians from Peruvian government, headed by Mincetur, is working in Washington for the FTA implementation; they met with Democrat congressmen in order to improve the forestry law included in the FTA.

“US congress members understood that Peruvian government has to be cautious in solving this problem because at the end we have the same goal that is forest protection, conservation and ensure a sustainable development” added Ms Araoz.

The Forestry and Wildlife Law also contemplates the elimination of forced labour in indigenous communities, the indiscriminate use of forestry resources and an end to all forms of abuse against indigenous peoples which has been going on for years, Mercopress reported.

Araoz pointed out that through direct dialogue between the government and indigenous communities, “this law may be improved”. (Andina)

us, congress, peruvian, amazonia, land, disputes, FTA, indigenous, communities, government

Peru’s GDP registers 0.4% growth in April, says BBVA

Peru’s gross domestic product growth would have been between zero and 0.4 percent in April, expected to show a greater dynamism in coming months, as the Economic Stimulus Plan is intensified, BBVA Banco Continental reported Thursday.

According to the bank, this projection is based on the deterioration of economic activity registered in previous months, in some cases affected by fewer working days in April compared to the same month in 2008, due to Easter holidays.

"However, we believe the economic activity would recover in the coming months, as the Economic Stimulus Plan is intensified," reported the bank.

According to a survey released by the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCR), there are fewer manufacturing companies making adjustments in their stock.

In this regard, BBVA considered that the completion of inventory adjustment process may benefit the economic activity in Peru.

BBVA’s GDP Monitoring Report concludes that the economic activity evolution in Mar-Apr period, which excludes Easter’s statistical effect, suggests that Peru’s GDP annual growth would average 1.5 percent in the short term. (Andina)

Peru gold exports totaled US$1.9 billion in first four-month period of 2009

The gold exports from several companies producing this metal totaled 1.9 billion dollars in the first four-month period of this year, a ten percent increase compared to the similar period in 2008, reported Wednesday Peru’s Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM).

According to MEM, during the first four months of 2009, Peru exported 2,200,500 ounces of this precious metal, surpassing the 12.4 percent of the volume registered between January and April last year.

The average price was 905.2 dollars per ounce, a slight decrease of 2.1 percent from the first four months of last year.

MEM said that the metal has become a strong and attractive alternative for investors to tackle the economic and financial crisis affecting the world.

This explains its demand and its good price with slight variations.

According to the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCR), the overall sales of mining products in the first four-month period totaled 4.2 billion dollars, which accounted for 59.5 percent of total exports (traditional and non - traditional). (Andina)

PeruRail to invest over US$ 30 million in various projects during 2009-2013

PeruRail, a railway operator working tourist, freight, and charter services in southern Peru, plans to invest more than 30 million dollars in the implementation of various projects during the 2009-2013 period, as part of its consolidation process in the country.

PeruRail general manager, Armando Pareja, said that the dynamic with which these investments are made will depend ultimately on the viability of the various projects involving the rail transport, which will be gradually defined.

"For example, three years ago we invested ten million dollars in the Cerro Verde project and another similar amount in the purchase of locomotives for the south east of the road," he explained.

It is worth noting that the copper concentrates multimodal transportation project of the Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde includes the moving of them in sealed containers from the mine, located in Arequipa, to the La Joya rail station in trucks covering about 60 kilometers.

In La Joya trucks transfer the sealed containers to PeruRail trains, which moved them to the Matarani port, where they are downloaded for their export.

Pareja noted that so far they have invested $ 21 million on trains that belonged to Enafer Peru and were received with the concession granted by the State, and another 23 million in new trains, among other expenses. (Andina)

Photo: PeruRail General Manager Armando Pareja. Photo: ANDINA / Rafael Cornejo

Report: AC/DC may perform in Lima, Peru

Australian legendary hard rock band AC/DC may perform in the Peruvian capital Lima after their concert in Chile was cancelled due to a forthcoming closure of Santiago’s National Stadium.

The Australian band are now finalising details for their Latin American tour and one of their requirements is to play only in big stadiums so as to attract the largest number of fans, El Mercurio Online said on its website on Thursday.

This requirement could not be met by Chilean producers, so the concert would take place in Lima or a Brazilian city on the same date.

According to reports, the only way to reverse this situation is that Chile's Sports Ministry (Chiledeportes) agree to reopen the stadium as soon as possible or AC/DC accept to play in another place.

Chilean authority Luciano Rojas said that the stadium will close for restoration works by the year-end, during which the band was expected to play.

He detailed that Depeche Mode, Coldplay, and Ricardo Arjona concerts have been moved to Santiago’s Club Hípico (Equestrian Club). (Andina)

Canada's Lower House approved FTA with Peru

The Lower House of Canada Congress approved this week the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed with Peru, which shall come into force in July this year, reported Thursday Peruvian Trade Minister Mercedes Araoz.

"The FTA will pass though the Canada Upper House or Senate to be approved without problems I think, so it is expected to come into force starting this July," she said.

It is worth mentioning that Peru-Canada FTA was signed in May last year, in addition to two agreements on Labor Cooperation and Environment, in order to promote bilateral practices and assistance.

During the negotiation rounds, Peru and Canada discussed bilateral market access for goods, services, investment, public procurement issues, among other topics.

The agreement is focused on socially responsible investing, in which Peru will benefit from the experience of Canada in forestry and sustainable development, said the Peruvian minister.

"This will undoubtedly provide opportunities to attract further investments in forestry but also in mining, energy and agriculture sectors," she said in statements to Radio Nacional. (Andina)

Photo: Peru's minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Mercedes Aráoz, opens today seminar on "Integration and Promotion of Foreign Trade". Photo: ANDINA / Rubén Grández.

Lake Titicaca continues to lead N7W of Nature

For the third consecutive week, Lake Titicaca continues to lead Group F (lakes, rivers and waterfalls) of the New Seven Wonders of Nature campaing, according to the latest ranking released on Monday by the contest organizers. 

With less than two months left until the 21 finalists are announced, the New 7 Wonders Foundation noted that Titicaca, a nomination shared by Peru and Bolivia, beats competitors such as the U.S. Niagara Falls and Europe's second-longest river, Danube River. 

On the other hand, the Amazon River and Rainforest remains second in Group E, (Forests, National Parks and Nature Reserves), which is now led by Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in the Philippines.

Furthermore, the Colca Canyon located in Arequipa moved up one place to second in Group D, which includes caves, rock formations and valleys.

A total of 261 qualified national and multinational nominees from 222 countries are participating in this second phase of the Official New7Wonders of Nature campaign.

Votes to nominate semifinalists will be cast until July 7 at www.new7wonders.com. The top 77 nominees by group categories (the top 11 in each of the seven groups) will be eligible for consideration by the New7Wonders of Nature Panel of Experts.

The Panel of Experts will review these 77 nominees and choose from them the 21 Official Finalists, according to published criteria. 

The selection will be announced on 21 July 2009, and the 21 Official Finalists will then enter the third and final phase to vote and choose the Official New7Wonders of Nature. (Andina)

Thai parliamentary group visits Peru to meet with President Garcia

In order to strengthen ties with Peru and local authorities, a parliamentary delegation from the Kingdom of Thailand is visiting the Andean country to hold talks with President Alan Garcia Perez and Congress members. 

The visiting delegation, which arrived in Lima at the invitation of Peru's Congress, will also seek the development of a common agenda to foster friendship and cooperation ties in economic, trade, social, cultural and tourism fields, as well as encourage people-to-people relations.

Senator Prasert Prakoonsuksapan, chairman of the Thailand-Peru Parliamentary Friendship Group, arrived Sunday in Lima accompanied by a delegation of eight Thai senators.

Prakoonsuksapan, as CEO of copper manufacturer The Quality Wire Co. Ltd., expressed his interest in establishing contacts for a future strategic partnership.

On Tuesday, the delegation is scheduled to meet with Congress President Javier Velasquez Quesquen and with the entire Peru-Thailand Parliamentary Friendship Group, chaired by Congressman Alberto Escudero Casquino.

There will also be a conference hosted by Peru's Foreign Ministry and ProInversión officials with the aim of briefing the Thai delegation on investment opportunities and tourist attractions in Peru.

On Wednesday, the delegation will leave for the Andean city of Cuzco to visit the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. (Andina)