Peru

As more Peruvians continue to work their way into the country’s burgeoning middle class, an increase in disposable income has led to strong growth in the retail sector. According to UN data, GDP per capita increased by 19% between 2009 and 2010, and is expected to rise in the coming years as the economy continues to expand.

After the second term of former President Alan García saw an estimated 250 social conflicts nationwide, incumbent President Ollanta Humala campaigned on promises of social inclusion programmes funded by an increase in royalties from mining activities, as well as stricter oversight of the sector. Thus far his government has taken significant strides...

Despite the global financial crisis in 2008, Peru’s insurance sector has been steadily expanding over the past five years, averaging 15% annual growth in premiums. While life insurance sales fell by 4.3% globally in 2009, as of December that year life insurance premiums in Peru were up 9.73% year-on-year (y-o-y), placing the country fourth on Swiss...

Water problems made the headlines in Peru in early 2012 when local protests halted progress on a major mining project in the northern city of Cajamarca. More than 2000 locals gathered to voice their concern that the new mine, owned primarily by the US-based Newmont Mining, would pollute the water supply and negatively affect a local aquifer. While...

While petroleum is narrowly viewed as a source of energy, its benefits in terms of enhancing the productivity of the manufacturing sector as a whole have yet to be thoroughly explored in Peru. The country is now on the verge of developing what could be a petrochemicals industry of vital importance and has an array of projects lined up for the coming...