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29 March 2024

Peru planning to open UAE embassy to improve ties

This is part of an overall plan to improve the bilateral economic and political ties. (Shutterstock)

Published
By VM Sathish

The Government of Peru has started work to open an embassy in the UAE after the country opened its first Consulate in Dubai four years ago, as part of an overall plan to improve the bilateral economic and political ties, Peru Consul General, Carlos  Tavera, revealed.

Speaking to ‘Emirates24|7’, Carlos who is the second Peruvian Consul General in the UAE, said the UAE Government is likely to open an embassy in Lima, the capital city of Peru, by next year and currently the UAE has no direct diplomatic presence in the South American country. Among other business and trade relations, DP World from Dubai has been very active in developing the first container port of Callao with a Peruvian partner, Unimar Group of Companies. 

International Petroleum Investment Company (Ipic) from Abu Dhabi, which specializes in energy and related fields across the world, has already started petroleum exploration in Peru, according to senior officials from the Trade, Travel and Tourism office of Peru under the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism. Abraaj Capital from the UAE is also active in the South American country’s Gastronomy and general petroleum.

“We are in talks with the UAE Government to open an embassy here. The UAE will be opening an embassy in Lima Peru by next year and we hope to reciprocate by following suit,” Carlos said, adding that the Latin American country is keen to improve both trade and political ties with the UAE and the Gulf region.

“DP World has got a 30 year concession for the Callo Port and the company is investing $600 million for the container port development in Peru, which will be one of the biggest container ports in South America’s Pacific Coast. The port is situated in the port district of Callao, outside the capital city of Lima. Known as Muelle Sur” the Consul General said.

After the first Peruvian consulate  trade and investment office in the UAE was inaugurated in September 2011, relationship between the two countries have improved much and last year about 1500 tourist visas were issued from the UAE consulate of Peru located in Dubai. Peru has  2000 kms of coast and there are new investment opportunities there for the UAE companies.

“There are no direct flights from the UAE to Lima, but talks are on to improve connectivity. Qatar Airways has already made a code sharing arrangement to start flights to South America linking Peru and Emirates Airline too is interested,” Carlos said, adding that the Peruvian food, especially gastronomic food chains, is gaining popularity in the UAE with four Peruvian restaurants already running successfully and four more are opening very soon.

Speaking at a special iftar organized for the Peruvian community, travel consultants and business government officials, the Consul General said there are about 400 Peruvians currently in the UAE, who work in many service areas like airlines, hospitality. We have about 15 Peruvian pilots working for the two airlines in the UAE. We have many Peruvian chefs in the local hotels,” he said, adding that a travel company, Condor Travels has been formed as a joint venture with the help of a UAE investment fund.

He said Peru has a diversified economy, with a focus on agro economics, minerals and other natural resources. The country is rich in copper, silver and other minerals and a population of 31 million, out of which only 2 million are working abroad. “In the UAE there could be around 400 Peruvians now. Perhaps that is the biggest concentration of Overseas Peruvians in the Gulf region.

AnnLaura Berenc from the Trade, Travel and Tourism office of Peru, said Peru’s exports to the UAE grew by 700 per cent between 2011 and 2014 and fifty per cent of the travellers going from the UAE to Latin |America take Peru as the first country of choice.

“We received about  3.2 million tourists in 2014. Two of the Peruvian hotels are rated in the Top 10 list by Traveller Choice. “There are more UAE investments coming to Peru," she said.

(Image via Shutterstock)