MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

London conference on Pacific Alliance; UK granted observer status

British Minister for Latin America, Hugo Swire wants closer relations with the Alliance

Over 150 representatives of British companies and businesses attended the conference on the Pacific Alliance (Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico) organized by the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Financial Times. The Alliance is considered one of the newest and most promising political and economic blocks is emerging from Latin America.

 The consolidation and development of trade ties between Peru and the United Kingdom remains a priority in the work of the British Government. That is why the British Foreign Office, with the support of the prestigious business publication the Financial Times, organized a conference in London on 10 December to promote the opportunities offered by the Pacific Alliance, the trade and economic bloc formed by Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

During the event, the British Minister for Latin America, Hugo Swire, said that the UK considered the Alliance to be a very good model of free trade, freedom of movement and prosperity. He highlighted Peru’s leadership in shaping it and the UK’s desire to develop a deeper relationship with member countries.

“I was delighted to learn that the United Kingdom was granted observer status in the Alliance. We received the news with joy and enthusiasm. “

Representatives of the member countries of the Alliance participated in the event, including Alfredo Moreno, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile; Vanessa Rubio, Assistant Secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean of Mexico; Gabriel Duque, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the World Trade Organization and Julio Muñoz-Deacon, Ambassador of Peru in the United Kingdom.

The Pacific Alliance (Alianza del Pacífico) is an ambitious integration effort between Colombia, Chile, Peru and Mexico which aims to deepen cooperation among its members - by dropping barriers on labor, finance and trade - and to forge closer relations with the Asia-Pacific Region. The United Kingdom has been the latest to join nations like the United States, Japan, Spain, Canada, Australia and Uruguay as observers.

The Financial Times in partnership with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Pacific Alliance Embassies in London, brought together senior policy makers and international business leaders for a forward looking and insightful discussion about the Pacific Alliance and key political and economic challenges and opportunities.