RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Peru’s operational special economic zones (ZEDs) have exported US$40 million in the first half of the year, an increase of 39% compared to the same period in 2020. In addition, US$116 million in imports to the rest of the national territory were accounted for.
This performance was shared at the XI Operational Meeting of Special Economic Zones, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), which took place in a virtual format and brought together representatives of the three special development zones: ZED Ilo, ZED Matarani and ZED Paita, and the Tacna Free Trade Zone (ZOFRATACNA).
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This event aims to generate an exchange of experiences on best practices that increase efficiency in the operations of companies located in the ZEDs and promote domestic and foreign investment by prioritizing a joint plan of projects for the development and strengthening of Peru’s special economic zones.
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Mincetur highlighted that the ZEDs “are in a favorable scenario to take advantage of the current trends in foreign investment. Therefore, the progress made in the regulatory agenda of the zones was shared with the attendees, as well as the scope that the new Special Economic Zones Management System, under construction in the Foreign Trade Single Window (VUCE), will have.”
Likewise, during the meeting, each ZED shared essential topics for the administration of these areas, such as the management of investment projects before the regional governments, improvements in the procedures for the attention of vehicles and massive unloading, and operational improvements generated by regulatory changes in 2021.
During the day, training sessions on the promotion and retention of foreign direct investment were also held by a representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), followed by a workshop focused on digital transformation applied to public management in the ZEDs.
It is worth noting that Peru’s ZEDs currently house around 162 companies and accumulate US$153 million of investment.