Economy

The recovery of the European and North American markets coupled with a rise in asparagus and avocado production are expected boost Peru's non-traditional agricultural exports by 18-20 per cent in 2013, according to the Association of Peru's Agricultural Producers Guild (Agap). The forecast is more positive than the 3.5 per cent decrease in exports forecast by the country's exporter association Adex. 

 

The World Trade Organization has conducted a review of Peru's trade and investment policies and of the advances made since its previous review in 2007.

Conducted with the participation of Peruvian Deputy Trade Minister Edgar Vasquez, this fourth Trade Policy Review of Peru covers a number of areas including investment and regulatory environment, customs, trade remedies, fiscal incentives and support programs, agriculture and fishing, among others. 

 

Representatives from Peru's private investment promotion agency ProInversion will travel to China next week to participate in an investment forum being co-hosted by the member countries of the Pacific Alliance. 

 

Monthly economic growth of more than four percent may not seem too bad elsewhere, but in Peru it is evidence that the economy is just limping along.

Peru's government said Friday that gross domestic product rose 4.37% in September year-over-year, the second weakest monthly expansion so far this year. In the third quarter growth reached 4.4%. 

 

Panama, Peru, Colombia and Chile are registering the strongest GDP growth, while Brazil, Latin America's largest economy, is stuck in an economic malaise.

Mining & Energy

Politics

Three police generals, two colonels and one commander have been fired as Peru's government finds itself in the midst of a political controversy, following revelations that police were providing round-the-clock security to the home of a former political operative of Vladimiro Montesinos. 

Diplomacy

The expremier Juan Jimenez Mayor was appointed Permanent Representative of Peru to the Organization of American States (OAS), a position previously held by Walter Alb�n Peralta, until his appointment as new minister of the Interior. 

Peru and Honduras have approved an agreement lifting visa requirements for their respective citizens, allowing to increase the bilateral flow of tourists in the short run, it has been reported.

The signing ceremony was held at the headquarters of Peru's Foreign Ministry (MRE) within the framework of the official visit to Peru of the State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Honduras, Mireya Ag�ero de Corrales. 

Immigration

Like many Latin Americans, Peruvians are increasingly chasing the American Dream. Many have received permanent resident status-or, as it's more colloquially known, been given their green card.

Alberto Adrianz�n, Peru's representative in the Andean Parliament, told press that 149,357 Peruvians were given green cards in the last ten years.

Music

Juan Diego Florez may not be well-known in Oman, but the audience at the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) realized they were listening to a unique talent on Wednesday evening.

 

 

Photography

A series of photographic portraits by acclaimed Peruvian photographer Mario Testino will be on display in New York City from November 20, 2013 to March 29, 2014. 

 

 

Gastronomy

Canadians in London, Ontario will have the opportunity to enjoy the exquisite flavors of Peru during the upcoming Taste of Peru and Latin Culture Expo.

Peruvian cuisine is one of the world's up-and-coming culinary sensations, according to organizer Chef German Nunez, who plans to donate a portion of the proceeds to the Canadian Latin American Association (CALA). 

Tourism

By the time the Spanish arrived in Peru at the beginning of the 16th Century the Chachapoya people had already been conquered and absorbed in to the Inca Empire.  Although they had resisted, the lands of these Warriors of the Clouds had been annexed and the people forced to adopt the customs and culture of their conquerors. However, they left one thing behind as a monument to their existence - the strange sarcophagi.

Thirty miles away from the city of Chachapoyas lies the Utcubamba valley where in 1928 an earthquake shook the hills and  revealed a seven foot tall clay square-jawed figure that had tumbled from a high cliff.

From Ayacucho to Abancay, one goliath pass lies sentinel after the next. Duly, we've been spinning our pedals patiently to 4,000m in altitude, only to lose all climbing credit immediately, freewheeling down to half that elevation - into a hot, sticky and fly-infested land. Still, compared to the rugged and remote mining roads traversed between Huaraz and Huancavelica, these ribbons of road that unravel between one valley and the next have been far gentler in grade. And, until Andahuaylas at least, almost completely traffic free. 

Sports

The 17th Bolivarian Games got under way Saturday with a colorful opening ceremony at a packed Chan Chan stadium in Peru's northern city of Trujillo, capital of La Libertad region. 

Peruvian President Ollanta Humala offered a warm welcome to athletes from eleven Latin American countries as he officially opened the 17th Bolivarian Games in Trujillo late Saturday.

The president called on the 6,000-strong athletes participating in the multi-sport event to do their best to meet the challenges they will be facing during this competition, in which "there will be no winners or losers." 

Peruvian athletes are targeting at 60 medals at 17th Bolivarian Games, says Peru's Olympic Committee (COP) President Jose Qui�ones. The opening ceremony of the games takes place Saturday night in the city of Trujillo. 

The world No1, Rafael Nadal, and his Spanish compatriot David Ferrer look ahead to their exhibition match in Lima, Peru on Saturday. Nadal says he's looking forward to playing his friend and fellow countryman. 'We are very good friends and we understand that a sporting match is a show, each player plays to win ... but when the end comes, everything is over,' he says. Ferrer says he takes pride in playing the current world No1 

Miscellaneous

Smartphone penetration in urban areas of Peru has risen three percentage points from 14 percent to 17 percent in one year, a recent study shows.

The Peruvian Army has accepted 38 new Jeep J8 light utility vehicles donated by the United States to boost its combat capability in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking

Drug mule Melissa Reid is set to see her mother for the first time since being caught trying to smuggle cocaine out of Peru.

The 20-year-old is awaiting sentence in a squalid Peruvian jail with Michaella McCollum Connolly, after the pair were stopped in August attempting to board a flight to Spain at Lima International Airport with 24lb of the class-A drug in their suitcases. 

In September, the British women pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.