Northern regions with economic development potential

Diego Macera Poli, director of the Peruvian Institute of Economics (IPE), who presented the results obtained in the development of the Regional Competitiveness Index (Incore), highlighted the economic potential and challenges that the northern regions of the country have for development.

“We measure competitiveness through six fundamental pillars: education, health, infrastructure, work environment, institutions and economic environment. Competitiveness not only serves to say that one
is better than another, it is also a tool that translates into better opportunities to close social gaps, by adopting positive experiences and success stories”he pointed.

The exhibitor, at the closing of the 34th Northern Business Meeting held in Trujillohighlighted as one of the results of Incore 2023, that northern regions such as Tumbes, Lambayeque and La Libertad, are among the ten most competitive regions in the country, with the first being the best positioned of the three.

Likewise, regarding how it has progressed Freedom Regarding the closing of gaps, the study concludes that positive results were presented in the economic environment, due to the advance of banking; In infrastructure, more homes have been able to access basic services such as water, drainage and electricityHowever, progress was slow in terms of paving the roads. Setbacks are also seen in health and education.

Fortresses in the north

Diego Macera explained that there are potential economic sectors to promote competitiveness and greater productivity, among which the agricultural sector stands out, which shows great potential in the northern part of the country.

One in four workers works in this area. On the other hand, regions such as La Libertad and Lambayeque They have not yet reached their pre-pandemic levels of employment.

“The northern zone needs to be competitive and productive to ensure a sustained improvement in the quality of life of its citizens. A favorable environment for investment will be key to driving more growth, employment and income, less poverty and vulnerable population, and greater closing of gaps. Failure to do so will mean postponing the development of the region,” he said.

Likewise, he spoke that the weaknesses of public management in the north are evident in the number and cost of paralyzed projects. La Libertad concentrates the highest cost in paralyzed works: S/4,474 million in 66 projects, of which S/ 2,902 million have yet to be executed.

Ministers and president do not attend business event

He 34th Northern Business Meeting, which brought together more than 300 participants, including officials, executives, managers and businessmen. One of the central points on the agenda of this event were
the measures proposed by the private sector to face the slowdown in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon.

To address these matters of utmost importance in the north of Peru, the president, Dina Boluarte, the head of the PCM, Alberto Otárola, and other ministers from various portfolios. Although they had confirmed their attendance, only one of them attended said meeting, organized by the Chamber of Commerce of La Libertad and Confiep.