Italy is a strategic partner of Peru, Peruvian President Ollanta Humala highlighted on Monday.
The visit Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi currently pays to the country is highly relevant, the Head of State added.
Renzi held an audience with the Peruvian Head of State at the Lima Government Palace on Monday with the aim of strengthening investment and trade ties between the nations.
The Head of State underlined the Italian community's contribution to Peru throughout history. The relationship remains in place through investments and the support provided to achieve the Schengen visa waiver for the benefit of Peruvian citizens, who intend to stay in the Eurozone for short periods of time.
At the same time, the President expressed his gratitude for Italian endorsement of Peru's progressive entry into the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the approval of the Multipart Trade Agreement between Peru and the European Union.
"Thus, Italy becomes a strategic partner of Peru," he stated.
Projects
Mr. Humala also emphasized the Italian enterprises’ participation on the development of projects executed in Peru, such as the Lima Metro Line 2, the country's top valued at US$5.00 billion. The aforementioned work gathers three Italian enterprises.
"We are working as a country that opens up to the international community, where we are executing projects of such magnitude [...]. That's why Italian investments will always be well-received," he said.
Likewise, the President mentioned Italy is a developed country with high industrial capacity and the latest technologies for sectors such as telecommunications, air transportation, construction as well as water and sanitation projects.
The Italian delegation appointed to Peru is composed of nearly 80 enterprises worth US$276.00 billion. It is the largest entrepreneurial mission in the history of Latin America, according to Italy’s Vice Minister for Economic Development Carlo Calenda.
COP21
Moreover, both countries made the commitment to work together in order to reach legally binding agreements at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) to be held in Paris in November and December.
Mr. Humala also highlighted the first visit paid by an Italian Prime Minister to Peru.
Cultural ties
Similarly, the Peruvian leader stressed some personalities and sites which reflect the cultural ties between these countries such as Giuseppe Garibaldi, hero Francisco Bolognesi, the Italian Art Museum and researcher Antonio Raimondi, among others.
"Therefore, the friendly relationship between Italy and Peru involves an historic tie and the fact that the Italian community has managed to integrate into the Peruvian community," he stated.
(END) MDV/CCR/HMC/MVB