PERU NEWS 

Newsletter of the Peruvian Embassy in the UK 

No.2 April 2008

We would like to introduce April’s edition thanking all our readers for the good reception of our first issue. We would especially like to thank those who sent words of congratulations and suggestions to improve the Newsletter. We have tried to consider all your comments for this edition.

In this number, you will find information about one of the two significant international meetings, that Peru will be hosting this year: the V Latin American, the Caribbean and the European Union Summit (LAC-EU) to be held in May. A special edition on the Summit will be issued next month.

The commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the death of Cesar Vallejo, the most prominent Peruvian poet and one of the greatest figures of the poetry in the 20th century, is one of the main cultural activities of Peru for this month. To find what it has been prepared for this tribute, you can check our Events Calendar.

Peru News spoke to Daniel Saba, chairman of Perupetro, during his visit to London last month. He talks about the investment opportunities offered by Peru in the Interview of the month. Finally, the newsletter introduces a new section: ‘Peru in the local press’, where you can read the most interesting information on Peru published in the British press during the previous month.

We hope you enjoy this Peru News edition.

London, April 2008

Peru hosts the 'V Summit of Heads of State and Governments LAC-EU in May

The V Summit of Heads of State and Government of Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union will take place from May 13 to 17 in Lima, Peru. This Summit, that for the first time will bring together 60 heads of State and Government of Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, will examine specific initiatives on the two major themes of the meeting: 'Poverty, inequality and inclusion'; and 'Sustainable Development: the environment, climate change and energy'.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other influential leaders from both regions have already confirmed their presence in the Summit.

Peru attains Investment Grade and it is expected to lead Latin American economic growth in 2008

The ratings agency Fitch Ratings raised Peru's long term debt in foreign currency rating from BB+ (speculative) to BBB- (stable) thereby granting Investment Grade. Peru becomes only the third country in Latin America to achieve this feat (the other two are Mexico and Chile).

Pisco wins in Paris

Pisco won gold and silver medals at the prestigious 'Vinalies Internationales' wine and (grape-based) spirits tasting contest held in Paris from 29 February to 4 March of this year.                                       

May 14th, from 11.00am to 6.00pm: 'the 49th ISS UK Spring Fair'. Peru will be present offering traditional handicrafts, textiles and jewellery.

April 15th: The Economist Intelligence Unit Business Rountable. With the participation of President of Peru, Alan Garcia, Government Ministers, companies executives and specialists from the Economist Intelligence Unit.

April 23rd to 25th: "PERUMODA 2008. The 11th International Trade Show of Apparel, Footwear, Accessories and Jewelry". The main event of the Peruvian fashion industry and one of the most important in Latin America.                                                                            

May 14th and 15th: 'EU-Latin America and the Caribbean Business Summit'. The National Confederation of Private Businesses, CONFIEP - the Peruvian equivalent of the British CBI - is organizing the II EU-LAC Business Summit to be held at the Lima Museum of Art. 

May 20th to 22nd: "Eighth Gold International Symposium". One of the major international events of relevance to the mining, metallurgical and financial industries.                                                                                 

April 15th to May 17th 2008: Peruvian artist Juan Bautista exhibits his work for the first time in the UK                                           

Spice Art Studios, 16 Manor Farm Road, Bitterne Park, Southampton, Hampshire, SO18 1NP                                                                                                                                                  Opening hours: 10.00am to 6.00pm                                                                                                                                                                   

70th Anniversary of the death of Peruvian Poet Cesar Vallejo

Free entrance  

April 15th, 6.30pm: Tribute to Cesar Vallejo: Poetry, Image and Music              Bolivar Hall, 54 Grafton Way, London, W1T 5DL  

April 16th 

12.00pm: Tenor Miguel Marengo in concert                                                             University College of London, 188 Tottenham Court Road, Room SB5 

2.00pm: Roundtable on Vallejo's Poetry                                                               

University College of London, Foster Court Building, Room 314                           

Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT 

April 23rd, 7.00pm: Film of the month 'Chicha tu madre' by Gianfranco Quattrini   (2006)

In the month of the 70th Anniversary of the death of Peruvian Poet Cesar Vallejo, we will also present the docudrama 'Stumbling between 46 stars' before the film

Free entrance

Peruvian Embassy, 52 Sloane Street, London, SW1X 9SP

Limited seats. For booking, please contact: 0207 2353 802

(ask for Romy Gibu, from 9.00am to 1.30pm and from 3.00pm to 5.00pm)

or send an e-mail to postmaster@peruembassy-uk.com (attention to Romy Gibu)

Read more...

May 8th, 6.30pm: Peruvian Gastronomy by Marisol Mosquera  

Organized by the Anglo Peruvian Society    

Cervantes Institute, 102 Eaton Square, London, SW1W 9AN

Read more...

April 23rd to 27th: "Peru Travel Mart 2008". The XV Tourism Business Meetings most important that will be held in Lima, Cusco, Valle Sagrado (Sacred Valley) and Machu Picchu. 

March 17th: Presentation of 'Flavours of Peru', a production of Travel Channel by Charlie Ottley and Alisdair Grant

Organized by the Anglo Peruvian Society at the Peruvian Embassy.

March 18th: Concert of Peruvian tenor Rodolfo Cavero

BBC

Necklace is 'oldest in Americas'

Peru meteorite may rewrite rules  

Bolivia and Peru defend coca use  

The Investment Column: hold on to Lookers as it revs up for a bumper year. Hochschild Mining 

Propitious Esculent: The potato in world history, by John Reader 

Archaeologists discover ruins of Inca temple in Peru

£254m battle of the Black Swan  

How would you like your guinea pig, sir?

Paddington Bear charms a new generation 

Strong metals prices put paid to Hochschild woes   

Tv researcher 'brought fatal flu to Amazon tribe'  

Peru welcomes investment grade rating 

Potatoes seen as answer to high cereal costs  

'London is a great place to present the opportunities Peru offers' 

Daniel Saba, chairman of Perupetro, Peru's hydrocarbon investment promotion company, announced in London the 2008 bidding round for 16 new exploration contracts in the Marañon, Huallaga, Lima-Pisco and Titicaca basins. After the presentation, Mr. Saba gave us his comments on this year's process.  

                                                                               Read more...

Exhuberant is the word that describes Madre de Dios with its infinite forests, sinuous rivers that rush towards the ocean, and life abounding in all its corners. Puerto Maldonado, the capital city, is an obligatory stop along the way to gain entrance to the national parks and reserves located in the area, and it has been, at certain moments, an important exporting site for rubber, wood, gold, and petroleum. At present, two of the main economic activities there are eco-tourism and chestnut harvesting.