Timeless Peru to come alive at Expo 2020 Dubai

Peru kicked off its plans at Expo 2020 Dubai  with a  ground-blessing ceremony, led by H.E. Edgar Vásquez, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru, Mr. Luis Torres, the Executive President of the Commission for the Promotion of Peru for Export and Tourism (PROMPERÚ), Alvaro Silva Santisteban, Director of the Trade and Tourism of Peru in the UAE, and Deputy Commissioner General of Peru for Expo 2020, and other senior officials. 

The ceremony officially marks the beginning of the construction of Peru pavilion at Expo 2020. Rising in the Mobility District, will bring to life the country’s cultural diversity and ancient wisdom that still surprise the world. 

“Expo 2020 Dubai is a great opportunity to showcase to the world what we are, whom we are and what we are made of. From our marvelous attractions to our award-winning gastronomy; our cultural and natural diversity to our ancestral knowledge and intangible heritage. It is a great opportunity to showcase our talent, hospitality, creativity, uniqueness, diversity, as well as the tremendous array of opportunities and vast possibilities to be fostered commercially”, said HE. Edgar Vásquez.

Under the theme ‘Timeless, Always Peru’, the pavilion will feature a unique architectural design that evokes the path that the nation has traveled throughout its existence telling stories of 10,000 years. 

“We are, and will always be, a country that transcends time. Even after many centuries, we continue to surprise the world: Inca constructions still astonish visitors through their innovative building techniques that have endured the passage of time. We have learnt from our ancestors to work as a community, looking to the future while keeping our past alive”, he added.

The pavilion will reproduce the last Inca bridge, Q’eswachaka, welcoming visitors and symbolizing the connection between the past, present and future of Peru, a timeless country.  

“This bridge -which is woven annually by communities in Cusco- represents the path that Peru has travelled throughout its history, nourished by multiple influences and events that have given us the identity that today fills us with pride. It also represents the path we are traveling, one that will take us to the future as a country. A country with an infinite wealth, great export products and beautiful tourist attractions for the world to see. This path is based on the sustainability of our biodiversity, our history and our cultural diversity, and shows our contribution towards the construction of a better future for humanity.”, highlighted H.E Vasquez Vela. 

UNIVERSAL PROMOTION 

Peru's participation at the Expo 2020 Dubai aims to attract tourism, boost exports and generate investment. Expo 2020 Dubai represents an ideal opportunity to position Peruvian products such as unalloyed zinc, grapes, quinoa, prawns tails, and pomegranate, among others, on the world market and increase their demand. 

The Peruvian pavilion will have dedicated spaces for work meetings with potential investors. In addition, the tourism industry will benefit from the visit of tourists and from investments in hotel infrastructure and connectivity. Moreover, new markets will be sought for trade, mainly in superfoods, alpaca, and coffee. 

Mr. Luis Torres, the Executive President PROMPERÚ, said: “We are extremely proud to be part of the most anticipated World Expo in history. We are coordinating with our partners from the public and private sectors to guarantee a great representation of Peru at the Expo.” 

“At the Expo 2020 Dubai, Peru will showcase its capacity as the largest reserves of silver in the world, as well as the largest gold, lead and zinc reserves in Latin America. In addition, the Peruvian Amazon contains rich deposits of oil and natural gas, as well as forest resources. Furthermore, the coast is renowned for its maritime resources and export-oriented agribusiness,” he added. 

From January to August this year, Peru's total exports to the UAE totaled US$ 610 million, an increase of 344% compared to the same period of 2018, exceeding the export record obtained in 2017. In 7 years, Peru has gone from exporting US$6 million to the UAE to more than US$600 million.

The design for Peru pavilion was selected through a National Design Competition, which witnessed diverse participation of architects and the country’s talent. The entry from Habitare Architecture and Engineering was adjudged the best and now rise as the Peru’s pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. 

TIMELESS PERU 

Boasting twelve UNESCO world heritage sites and vast natural reserves, Peru is riddled with magnificent archaeological sites that tell the story of ancient civilizations. More than 31 million inhabitants of Peru speak around 50 native languages including Spanish, Quechua and Aymara. 

Peru’s thriving melting pot of cultures reflect a vibrant, diverse community, many with roots as far back to the Incas and other sophisticated pre-Columbian civilizations. The cultural legacy still lives on in the art, customs and traditions found in modern-day Peru. The highly diverse country has 11 eco-regions and 84 of the 117 life zones that exist in the world. 

The Peruvian food is an important expression of its own culture just as its music, literature, textiles and ceramics. The pavilion will showcase Peru’s delicious and acclaimed gastronomy covering its three regions. The culinary history, an epitome of fusion, dates back to the Incas and pre-Incas, later influenced by the arrival of the Spanish colonies, and inclusive of the migrant groups’ demands. 

Peru is a mega-diverse country with habitats ranging from the arid plains of the Pacific coastal region in the west to the peaks of the Andes mountains vertically extending from the north to the southeast of the country to the tropical Amazon Basin rainforest in the east with the Amazon river.