The United States will continue to work with Peru to promote democracy, human rights, press freedoms, economic development and poverty reduction, President Barack Obama told reporters following a meeting on Tuesday with the President of Peru, Alan García.
“These are all issues on which President García has some excellent track records of success in his own country,” Obama said. “We want to continue to be an effective partner with Peru as they continue to grow and develop.”
Obama applauded Peru’s current political and economic situation, saying the Andean nation “has been an extraordinary success story over the last several years.”
The U.S. and Peruvian presidents also discussed the importance of international cooperation on environmental issues like climate change, as well as nuclear non-proliferation.
“We recognize that it’s important to leave to the next generation a country that has fewer nuclear threats rather than more nuclear threats,” Obama said. “And so I very much appreciate Peru’s strong stance on that issue.”
President García, who is visiting the U.S. from May 31 to June 3, told reporters there is a need for global economic reforms, with the International Monetary Fund playing a central role.
“All countries need very deep economic reforms in order to avoid the stumbles and falls that have beset some regions of the world,” he said.
García said he expects democracy in Latin America to continue to become stronger. “But this democracy needs to be modern, vibrant, a democracy that works with technology, with investment, one that does not fall into the trap of protectionism.”
“And so I am very pleased that Peru chose correctly in the last few years, and this has been demonstrated in fact. We opened our economy. We opened the way to more investment. We were not beset by political complexes that made us close our doors. And so as a result, we’ve seen a growth in our economy.”
Finally, García said he will continue to discuss issues such as Peru’s support for immigration reform in the U.S. and the country’s commitment to combating drug trafficking.
Nowadays, something that nobody would have expected 20 years ago is happening: A country that was affected by comunist guerrilas and huge economic problems, defeated them both and is now on track to economic develop and progress:
– Forecast for Peru’s econimic growth for 2010 is around 7% , the highest in Latin America (source IMF). Extremely remarkable during these times of global crisis.
– Peru GDP grew 1% in 2009, even when most of the world’s economies where not growing in all regions, showing the strenght of its economy.
– Peru GDP grew 10% in 2008, one of the highest in the world for that year, even above China.
Peru is strategically located at the center of the Pacific coast of South America, next to Brasil acting as its natural door to access the Pacific and asian markets.
Given it’s privileged location, it’s also the major air cargo hub in South America, central air hub for several air lines serving South America, one of the major maritime hubs on this part of the Pacific, being its main port, el Callao in constant growth and modernization and Lima’s Jorge Chavez airport ranked as best airport in South America last year.
It’s territory is also crossed by the Pan American highway, being the Trans-Amazonic highway to be finished by 2011 to connect it with Brazil by land through the Amazonic jungle, and being also other major transcontinental in process of being constructed with the objective to convert it in the central point of land communications for the South American continent.
There are major oil and gas pipelines transporting these resources from the Amazonas jungle to the ports and petrochemical plants on the Pacific while more are currently under construction.
Peru is 1st world producer of silver, and is among the 5 top producers of gold, copper and many other minerals.
The country has a wide variety of different climates which allow the production of an enormous variety of crops all year round.
It has signed free trade agreements with the USA, China, EU, Corea, Singapur; being conversations with Japan and other countries in progress.
The country acquired investment grade status in 2009 and the amount of foreign investment in the country will easily be over 100 billion US dollars during the next few years.