DY

18 TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2012 EDITION S VISIT OF PERUVIAN PRESIDENT A meaningful presidential visit for Japan and

By Elard Escala ples of both countries have been increasing. Ambassador of Peru For instance, on the economic and commercial level, both economies are now further opening up Peru’s economy: The sun Today, Peruvian President Ollanta Humala and their trade and investment opportunities based on his wife arrive in Asia on an official visit for the first the Agreement on the Promotion and Reciprocal time since President Humala took office last July. Protection of Investments, in force since the end of They have chosen Japan as their gate to this region. 2009, as well as the Economic Partnership Agree- shines over the Three state ministers, government officials and more ment Peru-Japan, in force since March 1 this year. than 30 of Peru’s most Last year’s trade reached $3.3 billion, with a pos- representative busi- itive balance for Peru despite the global financial cri- Since the beginning of the past decade, the economic growth. Second, a large number of sis. Japan’s interest in expanding its portfolio of in- nessmen, members of Peruvian economy has recorded an outstand- structural reforms have been introduced dur- the Peru-Japan Busi- vestments in Peru, for example, in phosphate de- ness Committee, are posits in Bayovar (Piura Province, on the northern ing performance. As a result of rapid growth in ing the last 20 years, drastically increasing the coming along. coast), their participation in a copper and molybde- gross domestic efficiency of the Peruvian economy relative to It is not a coinci- num mining project in Quellaveco ( product within a its peers in the Latin American region. Among dence that Japan has Province, on the southern coast), as well as in the fi- context of low infla- key reforms are trade and financial liberaliza- nancial sector—with new branches in Lima of Bank been chosen as the tion and sound fis- tion and the privatization of state-owned enter- first Asian country on of Tokyo Mitsubishi and Sumitomo Mitsui Bank— their itinerary. In speak of Peru as a country with many investment op- cal and external ac- prises. 1873, Peru was the portunities, showcasing a strong macroeconomic en- counts, income per For the foreseeable future, the Peruvian first country in Latin vironment and legal stability. Peru has consolidated capita (in dollars) economy is expected to remain one of the most itself as a reliable partner and has turned into a pres- America to establish has almost tripled dynamic economies in Latin America, if not the diplomatic relations tigious attractive business partner for Japan and the with Japan, and in Elard Escala world. in the past 10 years, most dynamic, a status that brings Peru much 1899, Peru became Since our histories and societies are already and the poverty closer to Asian than Latin American standards. the first South American country to receive Japanese linked, we should keep making efforts toward a ratio has sharply de- There is no doubt that international investors immigrants. Since then, very valuable friendships shared future of peace, social inclusion and prosper- clined by about 30 will continue to find attractive opportunities in ity. and cooperation between the governments and peo- percentage points. Alicia Garcia Herrero Peru. The mining sector will continue to be a What has really shining star, Peru being one of the most impor- changed in Peru, tant copper and gold exporters in the world. An- which was on the other opportunity is infrastructure in a broad Profile of President Ollanta Humala brink of disaster by sense (transport, energy and telecommunica- the end of the tions), given Peru’s infrastructure gap of about President Ollanta Humala was born on the Center of Latin American Studies, La 1980s, with huge 40 percent of GDP, or $70 billion. June 27, 1962, and is married to Ms. Nadine Sorbonne University. fiscal deficits, pro- While Peru and Japan have strong long-stand- Heredia. They have three children: Illariy, In 2004, he was appointed as military tracted hyperinfla- ing relations, their economic ties are still embry- Nayra and Samin. attaché at the Peruvian Embassy in the tion and political onic: Japan accounts for just 1 percent of Peru’s In 1979, he began his studies at the Republic of Korea. During that year, he instability? First, total foreign direct investment. In addition, Pe- School of the Peruvian Army Officers, ob- and his wife Nadine visited the of Hi- Peruvians have re- ruvian exports to Japan represent just 5 percent taining his BA and the title of Officer Brand roshima. alized—after suffer- of the total and are mainly concentrated on min- of Artillery in 1983. In 2005, he and his wife founded the po- ing from a terrible Hugo Perea erals. Imports from Japan are 3.5 percent of total In 2002, he obtained an MA in nation- litical party Partido Nacionalista Peruano. economic situation purchases from abroad but are bound to increase al defense at the School of the Center of He was elected President of the Repub- in the ’80s—that macroeconomic stability is a rapidly with rising demand for durable consumer National Studies. In the same year, he lic of Peru in June 2011. necessary condition for sustained growth. This goods for Peru’ s fast-growing middle class, began pursuing an MA in political science The Peruvian government decorated explains the number of rules that have been namely cars and electronic appliances. The free at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Humala on July 20, 2011, with Peru’s high- established to restrict the authorities’ discre- trade agreement signed last year between Japan Peru. est honor, “Orden del Sol” Grade of Great tion on the fiscal and monetary side. and Peru should be the trigger point for such In 2003, he was appointed military at- Cross with Brilliants. In particular, the public deficit has been economic relations to strengthen rapidly in the taché at the Peruvian Embassy in France. On July 28, 2011, he became President capped at 1 percent of GDP, and price stabili- years to come. ty is now the main goal of the Central Bank of He was also chosen as a PhD candidate at of Peru. Courtesy of Peruvian Embassy Peru. Such a stable macroeconomic environ- (This article is contributed by Alicia Garcia Her- President Ollanta Humala ment has drastically reduced uncertainty, sup- rero, chief economist for emerging markets at porting private investment and capital accumu- BBVA Research, and Hugo Perea, chief economist The revealed: Century after the Machu Picchu ‘discovery’ lation, which are fundamental determinants of for Peru at BBVA Research.)

Continuing the celebrations marking 100 Ñan” or Great Inca Trail, by creatively years since American historian Hiram Bingham overcoming unima ginable climate challenges revealed the existence of Machu Picchu citadel and geographical barriers. in a National Geographic issue worldwide, the As a tribute and a symbol of solidarity with National Museum for Nature and Science the affected people in the Tohoku region, brings closer to the Japanese public the ancient Sendai is the second city this exhibition will cultural richness of Peru by showcasing one of visit. Thus, Peru will pay tribute to the its most emblematic civilizations: the Incas. stoicism and exemplary civic spirit shown by Developments in engineering, architecture, the Japanese when faced with one of the worst astronomy and agriculture achieved by the natural disasters in their history. Incas through efficient use of natural resources Please enjoy a visit to this exhibition, one of and harmonious coexistence with their the most representative presentations on environment are explained in detail. Visitors Peruvian history and culture in recent years in will get a glimpse of the artistic talent of Asia. ancient Peruvians in their pottery, textiles and kPlace: National Museum of Nature and metal artifacts. One may also learn how rulers Science of Japan (Ueno, Tokyo) of the Inca Empire, or “Tahuantinsuyo,” were kDate: Saturday, March 10 to Sunday, able to integrate most of the wide South June 24, 2012 American Andes territory, through a 40,000- kHours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Fridays open Courtesy of Peruvian Embassy kilometer-long road system called “Qhapac until 8 p.m. Closed on Mondays. Machu Picchu located 2,430 metres above sea level was discovered in 1911. Strengthening Japan-Peru friendship through archaeology

By Izumi Shimada Left: A gold headdress of a Middle Sicán Distinguished Professor, Department leader (ca. A.D. 1000) excavated in of Anthropology, Southern Illinois University, 1991 from the East Tomb of the Huaca and Director, Archaeological Loro temple, Pomac National Historical Project and Sicán Archaeological Project Sanctuary by the Sicán Archaeological Project. On this joyous occasion of Peruvian Presi- Photo by Yutaka Yoshii/PASA dent Ollanta Humala’s first visit to Japan, I would like to share my fond memories of the Sicán Archaeological Project (SAP). While gold masks and ceremonial tumi Right: Arsenical bronze tumi excavated in knives are readily recognizable symbols of 2006 at the West Cemetery of the Huaca Peru, the identity and characteristics of the an- Loro temple by the Sicán Archaeological cient culture responsible for their manufacture Project. remained elusive for a long time. The SAP, Photo by Izumi Shimada which was launched in 1978 with Peruvian, Japanese and other international participants, has endeavored to shed light on this enigma. Over the past three decades, we have estab- lished that about 1,000 years ago, the Sicán cul- ture (also known as Lambayeque culture) that flourished in the Lambayeque region on the north coast of Peru achieved unprecedented production of arsenical bronze (alloys of cop- per and arsenic) and gold alloys (Figures 1, 2). It was this culture that produced those capti- vating and technologically sophisticated gold masks and tumis. The deceased leaders of this of the north coast and the Wari culture from generous donation from the Tokyo Broadcast- culture were buried wearing these masks and the southern highlands of Peru. It seems quite ing System (TBS). It serves as a lasting legacy knives to symbolize their transformation into appropriate that these magnificent artifacts of the Japanese-Peruvian friendship and high- venerated, supernatural ancestors. Their art that embody the fusion of two important an- lights the key role archaeology and other scien- style, which features what the Japanese public cient Peruvian cultural traditions have come to tific activities can play in cementing this rela- affectionately calls “almond eyes” (upturned symbolize modern Peru, which similarly inte- tionship. eyes), in reality fuses together the art traditions grates diverse cultural traditions and geo- graphic regions. The diverse arti- facts of the Sicán cul- ture recovered by the SAP are displayed at the National Sicán Museum (Figure 3) in the city of Ferreñafe in the Department of Lambayeque, Peru. The museum was built through the close collaboration of the Japanese and Peruvian Photo by Yutaka Yoshii governments with a The National Sicán Museum in Peru