Peru may attract more foreign investment through APEC 2016: expert

LIMA - Peru could attract as much as 50 billion US dollars in investment as the host of the upcoming 2016 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leader's meeting next week, a leading researcher said.

Fernando D'Alessio, director of the Centrum research center at the Pontifical Catholic University in Lima, said the Peruvian government has to use this event to attract more investment.

Speaking at the launch of a new book, "Peru: Leaders' Vision APEC 2016," D'Alessio said he believed in the ability of President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and his cabinet to secure economic development.

The new book, which will be offered as a present to important attendees to the meeting, seeks to showcase Peru's socio-economic situations and its potential business opportunities. It was co-developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).

"Our intention is to put the eyes of the world, especially the leaders of the 21 APEC member economies, onto the options in our country, putting an emphasis on the most highlighted productive sectors, which drive our economic growth," he said.

According to D'Alessio, the Peruvian market is becoming ever more attractive to foreign investors, especially in trade, mining, energy and tourism.

The 21 members of APEC account for 39 percent of the global population, 57 percent of global GDP and 49 percent of global trade.