RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Government of Peru ratified this Monday its “firm decision” to carry out the great “Majes Siguas II” irrigation project, which plans to create tens of thousands of jobs and benefit the farmers of the southern region of Arequipa.
“From the Executive power we ratify the firm decision to carry out the Majes Siguas II project and we will support the regional government in fully developing all the phases that contemplate its execution,” assured the Peruvian Prime Minister, Aníbal Torres, during a work visit to Arequipa.
Read also: Check out our coverage on Peru
Torres added that his compatriots must be sure that the project will be carried out “within the current legal framework” and that the government will control each stage of its development.
In this sense, the prime minister signed with the regional governor of Arequipa, Kimmerlee Gutiérrez, an act in which the decision to carry out the irrigation work was ratified.
Torres also assured that the Government shares and respects the position that the management of this project “is the exclusive direct responsibility” of the regional government of Arequipa.
The Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM) reported, in a statement, that the Majes Siguas II Project has been designed under the concession modality with public-private financing and that among its main benefits will be the creation of 145,000 direct jobs in agriculture , industry and services.
In addition, that the favored population will add 300,000 inhabitants and could boost US$360 million in exports of agricultural products per year.
“We announce to the farmers’ associations our decision to support them in their irrigation projects and improvement of water resources, offering them technical assistance for camelid and sheep cattle; support and assistance that we will channel through the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri)” Torres said.
The prime minister also assured that the government of President Pedro Castillo seeks the economic reactivation of the country, particularly tourism, for which he announced that a working group will be formed with local authorities and tourism associations to reactivate the area of the Colca Valley, one of the most important in Arequipa.
The meeting, held in the town of Caylloma, was also attended by the mayor of that province, Álvaro Cáceres, and the mayors of the 20 provincial districts, as well as representatives of the Defense Front and mining companies in the jurisdiction.