Director of the Center participated in the Business Breakfast “Thirteen Years of Peru-China FTA: Analysis and Commercial and Investment Results”
On Tuesday, May 23, the business breakfast “Thirteen Years of the Peru–China FTA: Analysis and Trade and Investment Outcomes was held, organized by the Chinese–Peruvian Chamber of Commerce (CAPECHI) at the Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center.
The event’s opening remarks were given by Dr. José Tam, president of the Chinese–Peruvian Chamber of Commerce. Another speaker was His Most Excellent Mr. Song Yang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Peru, who recalled the signing of the free trade agreement (FTA) in the city of Beijing in April 2009. Over the 13 years since the FTA came into effect, the value of Peru’s exports to its co-signatory increased by an annual average of 12.7% to US$ 146.138 million, of which 4.0% corresponds to non-traditional shipments.
The keynote presentation was given by Mr. Juan Carlos Mathews, Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, who noted that Peruvian shipments to the Asian market totaled US$ 20.674 million in 2022, of which 98.6% was composed of products in the duty-free access categories. China has been Peru’s main import-and-export trading partner for the past eight years, while Peru is currently China’s second-biggest foreign investment destination in South America.
This was followed by the presentation of Mr. Carlos Tejada, Deputy General Manager of Cosco Shipping Port Chancay Perú S.A., who discussed the construction of the Chancay megaport as well as its role and implications. Mr Tejada also stressed that this project will feature automated equipment to reduce risks and will incorporate environmental best practices.
The event concluded with a panel of commentators. Mr. Álvaro Barrenechea, Vice President of the Peruvian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, acted as moderator, while the panelists were Gonzalo Gutiérrez, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and current Director of the Javier Pérez de Cuellar Diplomatic Academy of Peru; Rosario Santa Gadea, director of the Center for China and Asia-Pacific Studies at Universidad del Pacifico; and Luis Quesada, former Ambassador of Peru in the People’s Republic of China. All panelists underlined the importance and benefits of the FTA with China.
We invite you to view the video of the event:
