14:31 | Rome (Italy), Feb. 11.
Economy and Finance Minister Denisse Miralles highlighted that Peru leads the region in youth entrepreneurship, as 54.3% of its total entrepreneurial population is made up of young people — a figure that far exceeds the regional average of 14.5%.
The government official said this leadership reflects the enormous transformative potential of Peruvian youth to dynamize local economies, drive innovation in production, and generate employment, particularly in rural areas.
However, the Cabinet member warned that structural challenges persist and require priority attention from the State and international cooperation.
Among the main challenges facing young entrepreneurs are limited access to financing, gaps in educational infrastructure, and the need to strengthen the coordination between technical training and labor market demands.
In this regard, Minister Miralles indicated that the government is fostering public policies aimed at closing these gaps and creating a more favorable ecosystem for youth entrepreneurship.
In this context,
the IFAD Governing Council serves as a key platform to mobilize resources for financing family farming programs, the economic inclusion of small-scale producers, and strengthening productive capacities in rural areas.
IFAD is a specialized financial institution of the United Nations that invests in rural communities — women, men, and young people — to enable them to contribute to national growth in a prosperous, equitable, and resilient manner.
In this context, the government official emphasized that IFAD is a strategic partner for Peru, helping leverage high-impact projects.
Among them, the Cabinet member highlighted the Avanzar (Advance) Rural program, which has US$24 million in financing.
This initiative has benefited more than 20,000 small-scale producers, financed 1,205 sustainable and inclusive business plans, and strengthened local economies in five Peruvian regions: Amazonas, Ancash, Cajamarca, Lima, and San Martin.
As an emblematic example, she cited the Bosque de las Nuwas (Forest of the Nuwas) Association in San Martin, made up of women engaged in medicinal herb production.
Through the Avanzar Rural program, they receive training in business management and support for irrigation systems, combining environmental conservation, sustainable production, and the promotion of ecotourism as a source of income.
"The experience of Avanzar Rural shows that inclusive rural financing reduces poverty, energizes local economies, and strengthens productive capacities," Miralles underscored.
During her remarks at the "Leaders' Dialogue – New Frontiers for International Financial Institutions," the minister highlighted the MERCAGRO project, whose structuring began in 2025 and which is currently undergoing the approval process with IFAD.
This initiative will have a significant impact on small-scale farmers in Apurimac, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Junin, Pasco, Puno, and Ucayali, as it envisages a total investment worth US$44.6 million, of which IFAD will finance US$26 million.
Its objective is to improve family farmers' access to productive development support services, with emphasis on marketing and integration into inclusive value chains. It will benefit 75,332 agricultural producers across 77 districts and 32 provinces.
"This is an innovative project that comprehensively addresses the production chain with a scalable vision and a focus on the 'first mile,' that is, on small rural farmers," the minister underscored.
The agenda included her participation in the session "From Farm to Market: Investing in Water Security," which addressed how climate change is exacerbating water crises and threatening global food security, more severely affecting small-scale producers.
It was noted that global water demand will increase 50% by 2050, underscoring the urgency of boosting financing, forging strategic partnerships, and deploying efficient technologies, strengthening IFAD's role.
She also took part in the commemorative event marking the "Tenth Anniversary of the International Day of Family Remittances," proclaimed by the IFAD Governing Council and observed each year on June 16.
The minister highlighted that remittances are a significant component of household well-being and the country's macroeconomic stability.
According to data from the Central Reserve Bank (BCR), remittance inflows from abroad reached US$4.934 billion in 2024, an amount 51 times higher than that recorded in 1990.
The official indicated that 76% of recipient households allocate these resources primarily to consumption to cover basic needs, while 20% channel them into investment, job creation, savings, education, and housing.
"Promoting the productive use of remittances enhances their impact on investment, education, and poverty reduction," she emphasized.
The 2026 IFAD Governing Council represents a strategic opportunity to consolidate partnerships, attract concessional financing, and position Peru as a regional benchmark in inclusive rural development policies.
"The agreements and commitments being fostered at this forum will have a direct impact on generating opportunities for our young entrepreneurs, strengthening family farming, and reducing productive gaps in the country's rural areas," Minister Miralles concluded.
(END) NDP/CNA/MVB
Published: 2/11/2026