Lima - Employment in Peru’s formal sector increased to over 1.135 million between 2007 and 2012, thus rising to a record high of 25.7%, according to the National Statistics Institute, INEI.
The latest report released from the state-run agency noted employment in the informal sector was reduced by 4.5 percentage points to 57% during the reported stretch.
Likewise, Alejandro Vilchez, head of that country's Statistical Institute, said informal jobs in the formal sector shrunk from 18.3% to 17.3% over the same period.
Furthermore, the recently-released figures reveal the country’s southern Tacna region stands out for recording a notable decrease in the informal employment rate.
“This region was followed by Arequipa, Moquegua and Tumbes with a 7.7%, 7.3% and 7.3% reduction, respectively,” the report which was out Thursday said.
The official data indicates the nation’s capital Lima together with San Martin and Callao show a 7.2%, 6.1% and 6% contraction, respectively, in informal sector-employment during the period ended 2012.
Meanwhile, the number of exporting enterprises engaged in Peru’s key manufacturing sector soared by 60 percent over the last five years, the country's Export and Tourism Promotion Board (PromPeru) announced Thursday.
Luis Torres, PromPeru’s director, noted there are more than 1 000 industrial firms with proved capacity to export their goods or services, while five years ago the rate did not reach 40 percent of the current level.
“In this way, the number of these companies increased by 60 percent in the last five years, driven by the booming rise of the domestic market and competitiveness of our businesses,” he told Andina news agency.
Likewise, Torres stressed these companies are aware of the need to enhancing their distribution and logistics capabilities to be able to reach out to more destination markets for their products, thus diversifying their customer portfolio.
"When a company grows in its domestic market, it requires to diversify its portfolio of customers, thus, our entrepreneurs are eager to make business in other markets from the region and worldwide," he noted
In pursuing this aim, the government agency’s top official said, they need to develop their market presence by managing costs and optimizing production in order to improve their operating performance.
South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry -- accompanied by a business delegation -- this week visited Peru. The delegation visited the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers to learn of the opportunities available and possible areas that could be explored in the sector. – SAnews.gov.za-NNN-ANDINA
