Embassy of India

Lima, Peru

India-Peru Relations

Political Relations

India established diplomatic relations with Peru in March 1963. Until 1969, the Indian Ambassador in Chile was concurrently accredited to Peru. In September 1969, India opened its resident Mission in Lima. The first resident Indian Ambassador in Lima took charge in November 1973. India-Peru relations have traditionally been cordial and friendly. Since early 2000s, the relationship has acquired more economic and business content leading to a Joint Study on Feasibility of a Trade Agreement. Trade negotiations are ongoing with five rounds and an online inter-sessional meeting held so far.  The multifaceted bilateral cooperation cover a range of areas, including health & pharma, energy & mines, textiles & agriculture, science & technology, defence & space, ICT & capacity building, people to people contacts & culture. India and Peru cooperate closely on multilateral matters. 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. A special event to commemorate the 55th Anniversary was held during the visit of Hon’ble Vice President’s visit to Peru in 2018. On the occasion of 75^th  anniversary of India’s Independence, a Special Commemorative Postal Stamp was released by Serpost in August 2022

Recent VVIP/VIP 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 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 and Information & Broadcasting Shri Arun Jaitley (participated in World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings and Meetings of G24 and the Commonwealth FMs – October 2015), MOS Railways Shri Rajen Gohain transited through Lima on 19 & 22 April 2018 on his way to La Paz. Vice President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu visited Peru from 10-12 May 2018, MOS Labour and Employment Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar transited through Lima on 4 September 2018, MOS External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan was on a bilateral visit from 22-24 August 2019. Secretary (East) visited Lima for the first India-Peru Joint Commission Meeting held on June 21, 2017; Secretary (Mining) visited Peru from 12-14 September 2018. An online interaction between the External Affairs Minister and the Peruvian Foreign Minister on 28 April 2020 focused on cooperation in dealing with the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, including exchange of best practices. It also highlighted the areas of priority and enabled both sides to re-commit themselves to strengthen cooperation.

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 for Foreign Trade Mr. Edgar Vasquez (March 2017), Energy and Mines Minister Mr. Francisco Ismodes (October 2018).

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 December 2007, the India-Peru Parliamentary Friendship Group was formed in the Indian Parliament. A Peru-India Parliamentary Friendship League exists in the Peruvian Congress since 2011. In April 2013, an eight-member Peruvian parliamentary delegation paid an official visit to India. Four Indian Members of Parliament accompanied Vice President Shri M. Hamid Ansari on his official visit to Peru in October 2013. A multi-party parliamentary delegation accompanied Hon’ble Vice President during an official visit to Peru in May 2018.

Agreements: Many bilateral agreements have been signed by the two sides over the years, covering a wide range of areas. Some of the more recent ones include Customs Cooperation Agreement, Cooperation in New and Renewable Energy, Defence Cooperation Agreement, Establishment of a Joint Commission, Educational Exchange Programme, and MoU on Cooperation in Geology and Mineral Resources. Both countries are currently negotiating a Trade Agreement. So far five rounds of negotiations and one intersessional meeting have been held. 

Assistance to Peru: India gifted medical aid of over 9 tonnes of essential medicines, including 900,000 Hydroxychloroquine tablets and protective gear on 14 August 2020. 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 with more than 570 candidates having attended various courses so far. Peru has been allotted 60 ITEC slots and additional 5 slots for master training in solar energy. Peruvian diplomats have been attending the PCFD courses at the Foreign Service Institute. Peruvian defence personnel have also attended defence courses in India. Two experts from CONIDA (National Commission for Aerospace Research and Development) have also attended the UNNATI (UNIspace Nanosatellite Assembly and Training) programme conducted by ISRO from 15 October – 15 December 2019 at Bengaluru. A group of 6 young Peruvian leaders, including three Members of Congress visited India from 20-29 May 2022 under ICCR’s Gen-Next Democracy Network Programme. 

Government of 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. An amount of US$ 150,000 was contributed in June 2017 towards reconstruction work in northern Peru affected by heavy rains and floods due to the El Niño phenomenon. Afforestation of an area in Lima named after Mahatma Gandhi was undertaken with GOI’s assistance of US $26,222. Learning material and equipment worth US$18,780 were gifted to the Rabindranath Tagore School in Lima project in March 2018.

Commercial Relations

Trade between India and Peru is growing. The total trade between two countries in the Financial Year 2021-22 was US$3604.93 million, of which India’s exports were worth US$897.55 million and imports from Peru were US$ 1,520.88 million. In April to September of the current Financial Year 2022-23, the trade increased by 7.66% to US$1,904.15 million with India’s exports recording 3.3% growth.

India’s main exports to Peru include automobiles, motorcycles and three-wheelers, polyester and cotton yarns, pharmaceuticals, iron and steel products, plastic products, rubber, pipes for oil and gas industry, tyres, pipes etc. Main imports from Peru are gold, copper, synthetic filaments, phosphates of calcium, fresh grapes, fish flour, etc. 

Several trade missions/business delegations have visited Peru representing sectors such as pharmaceuticals, leather, chemicals, engineering, apparel, cotton yarn, synthetic & rayon, handicrafts, plastic, food processing, and automotive parts. Virtual business interactions were held on business opportunities for Indian companies with focus on sectors like medical devices, pharmaceuticals, critical health technologies, agricultural machinery, customized vehicles, leather and footwear, electronic products, technological services, textile machinery, fisheries, metal industry, services, education, healthcare and entertainment industry as well as trade and investment opportunities. 

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. Tata Consultancy Services have a sizeable operation in Lima and is increasing its presence in Peru. Tech Mahindra and Infosys also have a significant presence in Peru. All major Indian pharmaceutical companies have their representative offices or local subsidiaries here. Indian automobile firms Bajaj Auto, TVS, Hero Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra have local dealerships.

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) and another plant in Delhi.

Cultural Relations

The two countries signed a Cultural Agreement in 1987. A draft Cultural Exchange Programme for the period 2021-25 is under negotiation. ICCR sponsored troupes visited Peru and Bolivia and staged performances at prominent venues. ICCR sponsored Sarod group led by Mr Apratim Majumdar visited Peru from 16-20 September 2019. The Centro Culture India at the Embassy conducted regular classes on AYUSH (lectures and workshops on Ayurveda and Yoga and extension activities with regional organizations), Hindi and the local Quechua language, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Painting, Hindustani Music, Bollywood and theatre for kids.  The AYUSH Information Cell, supported by Ministry of AYUSH, is promoting Ayurveda and other Indian traditional systems of medicine.

The International Day of Yoga (IDY) has been celebrated every year since 2015 at iconic locations, such as Machhu Pichu, Caral Valley, Qoricancha Temple and prominent cities such as Lima, Cusco, Trujillo etc. The 8th IDY was observed in June 2022 by organising 6 events on the theme “Yoga for Humanity”.  The 7th Ayurveda Day with “Har Din Har Ghar Ayurveda” as the main theme was celebrated on 21 October 2022 highlighting India´s wisdom in Ayurveda and its significance in daily nutrition to maintain a healthy life.

Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated every year with a series of activities and community events. These included special talks, including those by Dr Shobhana Radhakrishna on Mahatma Gandhi’s Global Leadership for Peace, Non-Violence & Satyagraha.

As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, several events have been held highlighting India’s cultural heritage, achievements, national unity, scientific and technological advancement, development partnership and contribution of diaspora. These included a Special India Week from 2-9 October 2021 and 4-15 August 2022.

Indian Community

The size of the Indian community in Peru is small, numbering around 450, including PIOs, mainly engaged in business and trade. Indian professionals are providing technical service to companies. There are some Indian nationals with the Missionaries of Charity and other Christian organizations in Lima, Chimbote and Puno.

Useful Resources:

Website: www.eoilima.gov.in; Twitter: @eoilima

Facebook: India in Peru & Bolivia; Centro Cultural India; Becarios del ITEC

You Tube: India in Peru & Bolivia

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22 November 2022