Andina

FA Minister: Peru will bring Pacific Alliance benefits closer to population

Photo: ANDINA/Ricardo Cuba

Photo: ANDINA/Ricardo Cuba

11:18 | Lima, Aug. 1.

Foreign Affairs Minister Ana Cecilia Gervasi affirmed that Peru will today assume the Pacific Alliance Pro-Tempore Presidency, with a firm commitment to bring the opportunities and benefits generated by this regional bloc closer to its citizens —a population of approximately 233 million inhabitants.

Before traveling to the Chilean city of Santiago to participate in the ceremony marking the handover of the bloc's presidency, Minister Gervasi told Andina news agency that it is an important responsibility for Peru to assume this position, "since we must resume the growth path achieved by our integration mechanism."

"This will be the third time that we assume it after two successful Presidencies in 2015-2016 and 2018-2019," the diplomat noted.

"This opportunity is significant, as it proves that the four member countries have prioritized our commitment to integration as a means to move towards the sustainable and inclusive economic development of our peoples, with the Pacific Alliance being one of the most innovative, flexible, and avant-garde mechanisms that Latin America has," she added.

The ambassador highlighted the Chilean Government's support, especially from Foreign Affairs Minister Alberto van Klaveren, as well as the efficient transitional Pro-Tempore Presidency that the southern country has exercised to boost the reactivation of the mechanism's work.

"We are aware that our country assumes this task in a challenging context for the Alliance, with perspectives of reduced regional economic growth, with citizen demands for improvements in quality of life, in addition to a difficult international environment and growing protectionist tendencies," she indicated.

Gervasi pointed out that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is convinced of the priority role that the Pacific Alliance must play as a space for regional integration to articulate joint responses for the benefit of our citizens.

"Within this framework, we will assume the Pro-Tempore Presidency with the firm commitment to bring the opportunities and benefits generated by the Pacific Alliance to its citizens, a population of approximately 233 million inhabitants," she underlined.

Dialogue

The Foreign Affairs minister emphasized that the handing over of the Pacific Alliance Pro-Tempore Presidency to Peru is undoubtedly a significant event, since it conveys a message to the international community that member countries, through frank dialogue supported by diplomacy, have prioritized the continuity of this integration mechanism.

In this new stage, the work of more than 30 technical instances that address priority trade and social issues, which seek to move towards a deep integration that benefits citizens, is being resumed.

About the PA

As is known, the Pacific Alliance (PA) is an economic and development initiative among four member nations (Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru).

This bloc constitutes an integration area to boost growth, as well as to achieve the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people.

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Published: 8/1/2023