stressed that 2024 ended with a new record, as exports worth over US$73 billion were registered. For 2025, the projection remains conservative, because these projections can change throughout the year, and an update is expected in the first quarter of this year.
"With new free trade agreements, a new export offering, and the full operation of the Chancay Megaport, we have the necessary conditions to continue growing," León pointed out.
"We estimate that in 2025, we will achieve growth of no less than US$74 billion in exports, which represents a 1.5% increase over what we have already achieved this year. This commits us and allows us to continue moving forward. Progress depends on a serious government policy, committed to economic growth, and working together with the population, the Central Reserve Bank (BCR), and other sectors," she added.
FTAs
Minister León stressed that
Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) has been
leading the consolidation of Peru as a country committed to free trade and a reliable partner for various economies for over 20 years. Therefore,
the Optimization of the FTA with the People's Republic of China and a new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Hong Kong were signed in 2024.
The Cabinet member announced that negotiations are currently being reactivated in order to participate in the Eighth Round of Negotiations with India, and the idea is that Peru will have a Free Trade Agreement with said country in 2025.
Likewise, she mentioned that the review of the texts for the trade agreement with Indonesia has been completed, and they are currently in the legal review phase, along with the annexes of that treaty. This opens up the possibility of signing a Free Trade Agreement with that country this year as well.
The first steps have also been taken to form a Bilateral Committee with the Philippines, with a view to initiating joint negotiations, which is the first step towards a negotiation and an FTA.
"We are very confident that this will prosper, and we will move toward a new trade agreement," she noted.
Furthermore, progress has been made on other agreements, such as with the United Arab Emirates, and a proposal to discuss the terms of reference that will guide the negotiations has already been submitted.
As is known, the negotiation for a free trade agreement is quite complex and must have rules that each country agrees to respect throughout the entire process, she explained.
In addition, regarding the negotiation processes for Latin America and the Caribbean, the government official reported that two negotiation meetings have already been held with Guatemala. León indicated that both sides estimate they will be able to sign the protocol to bring the FTA into effect in 2025.
"Similarly, we have been making progress on work with El Salvador and on deepening Economic Complementation Agreement No. 58 with Uruguay," she noted.
Remarks were made during a press conference following the Council of Ministers session on Thursday.