The fight against poverty is a key objective of the current government, driven by its strategy of social inclusion which aims to strengthen social programs as well as mechanisms of wealth redistribution, Macroconsult said in its weekly report.

"A first positive aspect, for example, is to have set a more ambitious goal of poverty reduction. A year ago the government's promise was to cut poverty to 20 percent by 2016. Meanwhile, in this speech, the president has been more aggressive and plans to end his term with 15 percent [poverty]," the report adds.

Macroconsult stressed that according to its estimates, the goal of reducing poverty rates to 15 percent is "possible."

To that end, it said, Peru must maintain an economic growth rate of 6 percent through 2016 and promote and increase social spending in real terms so as to maintain its share of Peru's gross domestic product.

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