on Monday said one of the sector's priorities next year will be to continue taking steps toward Peru's accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Likewise, the government official highlighted the progress made.
The Cabinet member attended a session at Congress' Bicameral Committee on Budget and the General Account of the Republic.
There, the minister indicated that his administration will maintain the political and technical momentum in the process initiated by the Peruvian State.
He noted that seven of the international organization's 23 evaluation committees have already approved Peru, adding that the country has favorable opinions from 13 of the 25 groups with which it is working.
"For 2027, our priority will be to accelerate the technical and political work needed to complete the pending evaluations and continue moving forward in a process that will help raise the standards of our public policies," Espa said.
The minister stressed that it is not only about meeting standards, but also about ensuring that Peruvians "feel the progress of public policies."
Previously, he told the working group that the sector has requested a budget of S/1.150 billion (about US$342 million) for 2027, of which S/1.131 billion (about US$336 million) corresponds to the Ministry and the remaining amount to the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI).
Other priorities
The minister said another of his priorities is to ensure that Pope Leo XIV's upcoming visit, in November, is a success.
The government official added that the visit should be an opportunity for reconciliation for all Peruvians, noting that the Foreign Affairs Ministry is responsible for the multisectoral coordination of this event.
The Cabinet member reiterated that Binational Cabinet meetings with Ecuador, Colombia, and Bolivia are scheduled to take place in the coming months, as well as another one with Chile in early 2027, to turn shared priorities into concrete and verifiable commitments.
The Executive Branch representative reminded legislators that Peru will assume the pro tempore presidencies of the Brasília Consensus, the Andean Community, and the Pacific Alliance in 2027.
In this regard, he reaffirmed his commitment to making a difference and assuming true leadership of these organizations.
"We will focus our efforts on combating transnational organized crime, disaster risk management, infrastructure, and connectivity, while also promoting trade facilitation and the economic integration of our nations," Espa stated.
International relations
At another point, the minister stressed that the United States is a strategic partner for Peru.
Furthermore, the Cabinet member highlighted the strengthening of this relationship in various areas, the recent visit to Peru by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the South American country's incorporation into the Shield of the Americas.
In this regard, he said both countries will deepen this partnership in various areas, expanding cooperation into strategic fields such as critical minerals, nuclear energy for electrifying remote areas, cybersecurity, among others.
Regarding the Asia-Pacific region, Espa indicated that Peru will make the most of the 2026 APEC summit, to be held in Shenzhen, China, in November, to boost opportunities in trade, investment, innovation, and connectivity.
"We will also continue implementing the optimization of the Free Trade Agreement with China. For 2027, we will seek to deepen our economic and technological integration with the Asia-Pacific region, consolidating relations with our main partners and expanding them to markets such as India, China, and Russia," he added.
The minister stressed that, in the current international context, the Foreign Affairs Ministry's priorities include boosting investment and exports, as well as seeking international cooperation to address the effects of El Niño phenomenon.
"Our objective is to have a map of potential donors in advance and the capabilities available at each stage of the situation that lies ahead," Espa stated.
Moreover, he noted that coordination is already underway with countries such as the United States and Japan to that end.