The Embassy of the Republic of Peru in India, in collaboration with the Honorary Consul of Peru in Chennai, hosted a special reception in Chennai to commemorate the 205th Independence Day of the Republic of Peru. The celebration marked the second consecutive official Peruvian National Day reception in the city, underscoring Peru’s continued commitment to deepening its engagement with Tamil Nadu and strengthening economic, cultural and people-to-people ties in Southern India.
The event also served as an occasion to reflect on the strong relationship between the two countries, which have shared warm diplomatic ties since 1963. Peru is India’s second-largest trading partner in the Latin America and Caribbean region. The reception was attended by His Excellency Javier Manuel Paulinich Velarde, Ambassador of the Republic of Peru to India, and Mr. R. Dinesh, Director, TVS Mobility Group, Chairman, TVS Supply Chain Solutions, and Honorary Consul of Peru in Chennai.
Ms. S. Keerthana, Honourable Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu, was the Chief Guest at the event. In her address, she said Tamil Nadu is well positioned to become Peru’s natural partner across several sectors, including agriculture, rare earths and mining. The evening brought together diplomats, government representatives, business leaders, tourism influencers and members of the wider community to celebrate the occasion.
Speaking at the event, His Excellency Javier Manuel Paulinich Velarde said: “As Peru celebrates 205 years of independence, we are pleased to mark this occasion in Chennai, a city that plays an increasingly important role in trade, innovation and international collaboration. Peru and India continue to deepen cooperation across trade, investment, tourism, education and culture. We see significant opportunities to further strengthen engagement with Tamil Nadu and build stronger connections between our people, businesses and institutions.”
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. R. Dinesh said: “The Peru-India relationship has gained significant momentum in recent years, supported by growing trade, business engagement and people-to-people connections. With bilateral trade reaching record levels and discussions on the India-Peru Trade Agreement progressing, there is considerable potential to expand cooperation across sectors such as mining, manufacturing, logistics, agriculture and technology. Tamil Nadu is particularly well positioned to play an important role in this next phase of engagement.”
Delivering a special address, Mr. Narayan Sethuramon, Vice Chairman, Matrix Metals, SANMAR Group, said India and Peru are entering a new chapter in their bilateral relationship, supported by a significant increase in trade between the two nations. He also highlighted that India is one of the major markets for Peru’s exports of automobiles, auto components and other products.
Mr. Jose Galvez Agurto, Senior Trade, Tourism and Investment Commissioner, Commercial Office of Peru in India, made a detailed presentation titled Discovering Peru – Industries and Investments. He highlighted Peru’s strong growth potential, driven by its natural resources and a knowledge-based economy. A leading mining nation with strong regional and global positioning, Peru serves as a strategic gateway to South America.
He noted that India has emerged as Peru’s second-largest investment partner in South America. Peru offers significant investment opportunities across sectors such as advanced manufacturing, design ecosystems and innovation-driven industries. To further encourage foreign investment, Peru has recently introduced new legislation enabling private companies to establish operations in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and avail tax-free benefits.
Bilateral trade between India and Peru has exceeded a record US$10 billion, comprising approximately US$2 billion in Indian exports and US$8 billion in imports from Peru. Trade between the two countries has doubled over the past two years, reflecting the strengthening economic partnership and growing opportunities for collaboration in trade, investment, technology, infrastructure and sustainable development.
The event also featured a panel discussion on the theme, ‘India-Peru Partnership: Unlocking Opportunities for Growth and Collaboration’. Ongoing negotiations towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement are expected to further strengthen economic ties and facilitate greater market access for businesses in both countries.