India – Peru diplomatic relationship

Political Relations

India established diplomatic relations with Peru in March 1963. The Indian Ambassador in Chile was concurrently accredited to Peru. In September 1969, India opened its resident mission in Lima, Peru. The first resident Indian Ambassador in Lima took charge in November 1973.  India-Peru relations have traditionally been cordial and friendly. Since the 1990s, there has been an increasing economic and business content to the relationship. On the Peruvian side, an enhanced interest in the Asian region due to APEC membership, coupled with India’s image as a technologically advanced democratic developing country, as well as increased bilateral trade in recent years, has enhanced India’s importance. Peru is also a member of NAM and G-77.  India and Peru cooperate closely on multilateral matters.

Recent VIP / VVIP visits from India to Peru: President Shri K. R. Narayanan (1998); EAM Shri Yashwant Sinha (2003);  MoS Defence Rao Inderjit Singh (2006);  MoS  External Affairs Dr. Shashi Tharoor (2010);  Minister for Housing, Urban Poverty Alleviation & Tourism Kumari Selja (2010);  MoS (C&I) Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia (2010).  Vice President Shri M. Hamid Ansari (2013); MoS for Railways Shri Adhir Ranjan Choudhury (2014);  MoS for Environment, Forests & Climate Change Shri Prakash Javadekar ( for COP20 –  December 2014); Minister for Small Scale & Minor Industries and Tourism  of Karnataka, Shri R.V. Deshpande visited Peru for a roadshow Invest Karnataka (August 2015),  Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs & Information & Broadcasting Shri Arun Jaitley (participated in World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings and Meetings of G24 and the Commonwealth FMs – October 2015). Secretary (East) visited Lima for the first India-Peru Joint Commission Meeting held on June 21, 2017.

Recent VIP / VVIP visits from Peru to India: President Alan Garcia (1987) – Chief Guest for Republic Day; President Alberto Fujimori (1997); Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Mr.  Alfredo Ferrero  (2006);  Vice Minister for Defence Mr. Rafael Aita Campodonico (2009) to attend “Aero India 2009”; Minister for Trade and Tourism Mr. Eduardo Ferreyros (2011); Vice Minister of Environment Mr. Hugo Cabiese (2011); Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Jose Beraun Araníbar (2012); Vice Minister for Foreign Trade Mr.Edgar Vasquez (August 2014). Vice Minister Edgar Vasquez visited India in March 2017 to initiate first technical meetings with regard to the negotiations for signing a Trade Agreement with India and Peru.

Parliamentary contacts:  In January 2003, two Vice-Speakers from the Peruvian Congress visited India to participate in the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Indian Parliament. On 30 April, 2003, the Peruvian Congress reactivated the Peru-India Parliamentary Friendship League.  In the last Congress, a 17-member Peru-India Parliamentary Friendship League was inaugurated on 13th December 2011. In December 2007, the India-Peru Parliamentary Friendship Group was formed in the Indian Parliament. In April 2013, for the first time, an eight-member Peruvian parliamentary delegation led by Ms. Lourdes Alcorta Suero, Congresswoman and the President of the Peru-India Parliamentary Friendship League, paid an official visit to India.   Four Indian Members of Parliament accompanied Vice President Ansari on his official visit to Peru in October 2013. A new Peru-India Parliamentary Friendship League headed by Mr. Roy Ventura Angel has been constituted by the newly elected Congress of Peru in 2016.

Agreements:  Many bilateral agreements have been signed by the two sides over the years, covering a wide range of cooperation areas. Some of the more recent ones include a Defence Cooperation Agreement, Establishment of a Joint Commission, Educational Exchange Programme and an MoU on Cooperation in Geology and Mineral Resources. A number of other agreements such as Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement, Customs Cooperation Agreement, Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Air Services Agreement,  Agreement for the Exchange of Information and Assistance in Collection with respect of Taxes, Social Security and Cooperation in  Health, are being negotiated. Both sides have finalized MoU on Cooperation in Renewable Energy  and is ready for signature.  In the light of complementarities of bilateral trade between India and Peru, both sides have agreed on negotiations for a Trade Agreement.  The Joint Study in this regard was concluded during the visit of a delegation from the Commerce Ministry in September 2016. The first round of negotiations were held in New Delhi during August 8-11, 2017. The second round is expected to be held in Lima in December 2017

Institutional Mechanisms: The 4th India-Peru Foreign Office Consultations were held in New Delhi on 13th July 2012 after a gap of seven years. The first meeting of the India-Peru Inter-governmental Joint Commission was held in Lima on 21 June 2017 headed by Secretary (East) from the Indian Side and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs from the Peruvian side.

Assistance to Peru:   The India-Peru Centre for Excellence in Information Technology (IPCEIT) set up in Lima with the assistance of the Government of India  commenced academic courses from March 2015.    India offers to Peru regular training courses under its ITEC programme which is gaining popularity in Peru.   During 2017-18, Peru has been allotted 50 ITEC slots which is being well utlized. Peruvian diplomats have also been attending the PCFD courses at the Foreign Service Institute.  For the first time, Peru sent an officer (Naval) to attend the 53rd NDC Course in New Delhi in 2013. 

India gave an amount of US$ 500,000 to the Government of Peru as disaster relief assistance in the wake of a severe earthquake which took place on 15 August 2007. India has extended financial assistance for afforestation of a park in Lima named after Mahatma Gandhi. India contributed an amount of US$ 150,000 in June 2017 towards reconstruction work in northern Peru affected by heavy rains and floods due to the El Niño phenomenon.

Commercial RelationsTrade between India and Peru is growing, with trade crossing the US $1 billion mark for last four  years. During 2014-15, the total trade was US $ 1.41 billion.

 Indo-Peruvian Trade (US $ Million)

Source:  DGCI & S, Department of Commerce, Government of India

However, according to Peru Custom Statistic, trade between India and Peru during the calendar year 2015 (January to December) was US$ 1.559 billion – exports from India to Peru were US $883.26 million and imports by India from Peru were valued at US $676.289 million. During the same period in 2016, according to Peru Custom Statistic, the total trade was US $ 1.69 billion – exports from India to Peru valued at US $766.787 million (a decline of 13.19%) while imports by India from Peru valued at US $929.917 million (a growth of 37.5%). During the first four months of 2017 (January to April), the total trade is valued at US $ 703.475 million (with Indian exports valued at US $224.949 million; imports by India from Peru at US $478.526 million).

India’s main exports to Peru are towers of iron and steel, pipes for oil and gas industry, automobiles, motorcycles and three-wheelers, iron and steel products, polyester and cotton yarns, pharmaceuticals, etc. Main Indian imports from Peru are copper, gold, phosphates of calcium, zinc and lead minerals, fish flour, synthetic cables, fresh grapes, cocoa beans, etc.

Investments: Five Indian companies have currently invested in the mining sector in Peru.  It is estimated that their present investment is to the tune of US $ 30 million.  This will continue to grow every year as the mines reach more advanced stages.  Many more mining companies are in the process of scouting/finalizing the acquisition of mining assets. In addition, IFFCO has a major stake in a large phosphate mining operation in northern Peru. Similarly, Zuari Agro, partnering with Mitsubishi, has a 30% stake in a large rock phosphate reserve in the same area.  Zuari’s investment share in the development of this project will be about US $ 36 million.  Tata Consultancy Services have a sizeable operation in Lima and is increasing its presence in Peru. Tech Mahindra also has a significant presence in Peru after the acquisition of the Israeli company LeadCom.  Indian company Redbus belonging to the Ibibo.com group has acquired majority stake in the Peruvian company Busportal.pe. Reliance has acquired an oil block. All the major Indian pharmaceutical companies have their representative offices or local subsidiaries here.

AJE Peru has opened a subsidiary in Maharashtra, AJE India Pvt. Ltd. manufacturing soft beverages. The operations started in December 2010.  They have invested US $ 15 million so far and plan to increase this in the future.    A major Peruvian company, Resemen S.A.C., which specializes in mining machinery, has opened a subsidiary in New Delhi by the name of  Reliant Drilling Ltd.,  following a major contract it has won from Hindustan Zinc  Ltd. Several other mining services companies of Peru have set up operations in India such as Opermin and AAC Mining Executors Ltd. Lubricants major Vistony has set up a plant near Rewari (Haryana). They have announced another USD 10 million plant in Delhi, the construction of which has already started.

Cultural Relations

ICCR sponsored the visit of renowned Odissi dancer Masako Ono to Peru in April 2012. The 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Peru was celebrated on 25 March 2013.  During the ceremony, a special postal stamp depicting Taj Mahal and Machu Picchu was issued.  An Exhibition of Documents and Photographs covering 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations was also opened on the occasion. On 21 June, a Conference on Scientific and Technological Developments in India was organized by the Commission of Science, Innovation and Technology of the Peruvian Congress as part of events marking the 50th anniversary of establishment of bilateral relations. A Mini Festival of India was inaugurated by Vice President on 26 October 2013.  In the Festival, Nrityarupa dance was presented by Sangeet Natak Akademi and a Film Festival and a Literary Programme were organised by the Directorate of Film Festivals and  the Sahitya Akademi respectively. A 5-member Rabab Instrumental Group sponsored by ICCR participated in Lima in  the 1st Highlands Music Festival in November 2014. A 6-member Kuchipudi Dance Group led by Ms. T. Radha Lakshmi  sponsored by ICCR  gave performances and held  workshop cum lectures in Lima from 13 to 18 October 2015.  In the 2nd Highlands Music Festival held in March 2016, a 3-member Santoor group led by Bipul Kumar Ray participated. A six-member Manipuri Pung Cholam troupe from Ranganiketan International Centre for Art and Culture participated in the 3rd Highlands Music Festival held in March 2017. The first International Day of Yoga and the second one in 2016 were successfully held in Peru.  The third International Day of Yoga 2017 was held in Piura, Trujillo, Cusco the World Heritage site of Machu Picchu, Tacna and Lima. In Lima, the participation crossed 10,000 persons.  A number of pre and post events were also organised in many areas. Cultural Exchange Programme for the year 2017-2020 is under discussion.

Cultural Centre

A Cultural Centre has been functional at the Embassy since December 15, 2015.  A number of activities are being organised regularly including classes for dance, music, Rangoli, workshop on Ayurveda, mediation etc. Indian movies and documentaries with Spanish subtitles are being screened regularly at the Centre. Since June 2016, a Yoga Teacher has been deployed by ICCR.  Regular yoga classes are being conducted at the Centre.  Special yoga classes are also being conducted at venues of other organisations.  With the support of Ministry of AYUSH, Ayurvedic and Yoga Workshops by experts have been organised in collaboration with the Peruvian health agency EsSalud and other local organisations at Lima, Trujillo and Arequipa. More events are planned in the coming months. Discussions are also on for signing of MoUs in cooperation with various Peruvian organisations in the areas of Medicinal Plants, Traditional Medicine as well as for the establishment of an AYUSH Chair. An AYUSH Information Cell has been set up at the Embassy.

Indian Community

The Indian community in Peru is quite small, numbering around 500, mainly engaged in business and trade.   More Indian professionals are coming to Peru with the entry of more Indian companies. In addition, there are some Indian nationals with the Missionaries of Charity and other Christian organizations in Lima, Chimbote and Puno.

Source: Embassy of India Lima Peru