LIMA, PERÚ-SETIEMBRE 29. El ministro de Economía y Finanzas, Alfredo Thorne, clausura el II Congreso Internacional de Infraestructura y Desarrollo 2016. Foto: ANDINA/ Eddy Ramos
Economy and Finance Minister Alfredo Thorne said the Government of Peru plans to boost infrastructure investment to 6.2% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2021.
“One of our goals is to boost infrastructure investment from 4.5% to 6.2% of GDP. We believe this is a herculean but quite important task,” Thorne said after closing the II International Infrastructure and Development Congress (CIID).
The minister said his administration plans to increase the number of public-private partnerships (PPPs) awarded by the government, minimize amendments and reduce the length of proceedings.
“We have to reduce the infrastructure gap, we propose a 50% decrease because, according to estimates, it totals US$140 billion, and we want to reduce it to US$70 billion,” he added.
Thorne explained public investment is in trouble, since projects are not targeted at closing budget allocation gaps.
“We cannot allow the construction of water theme parks in neighborhoods lacking drinking water and sanitation services. We need a system to close inequality gaps and to invest in what really matters,” he said.
According to the economist, quality of projects is not good enough, so more capabilities are needed at investment programming offices.
(END) CNA/CNA/RMB/MVB
Published: 9/30/2016