Peruvian food is the best in S. America - so the Peruvians say. It certainly is delicious - there’s a Peruvian restaurant near Waterloo station in London. The potato of course is Peru’s gift to the world, a real global export. And do they know how to cook it.
But Lima is the biggest world city in a desert. It never rains, but because of the Andes snow melt there’s still water.
I write this at 11pm - the end of a day completely filled with a programme of events and meetings. I am about to go to the airport to get an overnight plane to Buenos Aires. Am going to be a wraith at the end of the week - the adrenalin is keeping me going.
Best moment today was giving a speech to 200 students about entrepreneurship. They were so enthusiastic it really moved me – and they are testament to the passion and promise of Peru’s next generation of enterprising business people. Entrepreneurs are key to economic success and this event – organised with the Universidad San Ignacio De Loyola and the British Embassy - is a trail for Global Entrepreneurship Week across 83 countries next month. I got mobbed at the end for photos with me. Never been treated like that before - it could go to my head.
Another meeting with the Minister for Trade and Tourism, also a meeting with head of Inward Investment Bureau, breakfast with the British Business Group, lunch with UKTI team, meeting with the Chamber of Commerce, a visit to JCB to see their construction kit, a reception for the commercial stars of Lima from both Peruvian and British companies, and nine media interviews and a photo shoot. Not a bad day’s work.
I am always struck by how much we depend on the local business community’s goodwill and engagement. Also how much affection there is for Britain and admiration of what we stand for. But also just how much we at UKTI can do to help network and advise UK companies.
The Peruvian Minister asked me why more UK companies were not here - the same question throughout Latin America. Memories of 1980s corruption and instability? Feeling that USA and Spain have it all sown up? No direct flights? Long way away? We used to be the dominant trading partner here in the nineteenth century. A challenge for the teams.
At a Business breakfast I heard from UK businesses of the obstacles to successful commerce. One was the lack of a direct flight to London. Another was the difficulty of Peruvian citizens getting visas. I promised to raise both issues. It was great also to help JCB in their bid to break in to the main stream of the market with publicity opportunities. I picked up over 40 business cards in the course of the day. I look forward to helping them out.