Economy

Following the end of the commodities supercycle that sustained Peru’s economic growth at an average rate of 6.4% per annum since the mid-2000s, the country saw growth fall sharply over the course of 2014. However, this slowdown is widely seen as a temporary lull, attributable in part to delays in some major mining developments, and the government has sought to counteract the current situation by introducing a range of measures that are designed to stimulate both private and public investment. In 2015 growth is expected to pick up again, ensuring Peru retains its place among the fastest-growing economies both within the region and globally. Nevertheless, certain long-standing structural challenges, such as the poor quality of education and the inefficiency of regional governments, will need to be tackled soon in order to boost growth potential and sustain the remarkable development the country has witnessed over the past two decades.

This chapter contains interviews with Alonso Segura, Minister of Economy and Finance; Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); and Carlos Herrera, Executive Director, ProInversión. It also includes a viewpoint from Fernando D’Alessio Ipinza, Director-General, CENTRUM Católica.