on Friday reported that Peru relies on financing worth US$140 million just to work on innovation topics over the next five years due to a credit line granted by the
"Thanks to the leadership of
President (Francisco) Sagasti, we are securing funds for the following years; US$140 million in a credit line with the
IDB to exclusively support innovation-related affairs. We leave, for the next five years, a funded innovation system, and that is something highly relevant for the entire environment," Chicoma expressed.
"That comes with an injection of resources and a projection for 15 years, which will then have to be negotiated as the corresponding deadlines approach," he added.
During the international forum "Towards a modern industrial development policy for Peru," the Cabinet member stressed that in recent years many ministries have been able to rely on greater funds for innovation, thus managing to promote and build a good environment in the country.
"We also crafted a roadmap on productive development, being a concept that was used so as not to mention industrial policy, which used to be a forbidden word," he explained.
Likewise, the minister mentioned that Peru has a pending issue which must be addressed in the future. It has to do with the shaping of capacities throughout the State, so that —in a coordinated and articulated way— it can work to promote productive development policies in every related ministry.
"That includes the ministries, which must allocate a budget, as well as those in charge of implementing policy, employment, and environmental sustainability," he explained.
Digitalization
Likewise,
Minister Chicoma indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic made the Government realize that there were many others pending issues, some of which have to do with the State's ability to promote the new industrial policy.
"One of the pending issues is digitalization. Peru has one of the most terrible digitalization gaps in Latin America and around the world, which is not at all in line with our economic development levels," he said.
"The pandemic finally made us face that situation, and the next administration will have to do so because there is currently no way to promote goods and services in various sectors, other than through digital mechanisms."
"That is one of the greatest demands of micro and small companies in every region of the country. With a greater boost from the State, we could help the most vulnerable (sectors) to better include themselves in a digital economy," he pointed out.