The recent Launch of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Country Program with Peru has gathered the attention of international organizations interested in supporting the successful application of this platform, said Peru’s Foreign Minister, Gonzalo Gutierrez.
Peru is the first country to join this new instrument, which is also intended to turn it into a member of this organization.
“It is interesting to see the attention for this new program; offers to help Peru apply this platform successfully have been received from the World Bank, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and other international organizations,” he pointed out.
Gutierrez recalled the launch of the program was signed in Mexico a few days ago, and that through it Peru will strengthen its public policies over the next two years, resulting in improved standards in terms of environment, government procedures and corruption.
In 2014, the OECD established Country Programs as a new instrument for supporting dynamic, emerging economies such as Peru in designing their reforms and strengthening public policies.
According to Angel Gurria, OECD Secretary-General, Peru stands out as one of the most rapidly evolving Latin American economies, driven by significant reform and impressive economic momentum.
"It has the strongest growth in the region. Between 2000 and 2008, its average growth rate was 5.6%. In 2009, during the very worst of the economic crisis, it was one of the few Latin American countries to register positive growth (1.1%), and, from 2010 to 2013, when the global economy grew very slowly, Peru notched up an average growth rate of 6.7%," he added.
This momentum, sustained by a combination of prudent macro-economic policies and thorough structural reforms, has enabled Peru to double its per capita GDP, expand its middle class to include 70% of the population and significantly reduce its poverty indexes.
However, both the Peruvian Government and the OECD are aware of the huge challenges facing the country along the path to development.
The country’s first challenge is raising the standard of education.
Second, reducing the informal economy and the high proportion of the population with no medical or retirement security.
Third, strengthening the taxation system and, in general, the ability of the State to provide high quality services in remote regions.
(END) JCC/FHG/RMB
Published: 12/20/2014