The White City received this morning with open arms to Julio VelardePresident of Central Reserve Bank (BCR). Entrepreneurs, academic, civil, military and religious authorities met at the campus of the San Pablo Catholic Universityin Arequipa, to pay tribute to the economist for his outstanding career, academic excellence and valuable contributions to the national economy.
The San Pablo Catholic University (UCSP) gave Velarde the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa, the highest academic recognition that said house of studies can grant.
“In our university tradition, this title is a recognition of a life dedicated with excellence to knowledge and the service of the common good. In this act the university enhances by joining with the name of those who with their thinking and action have contributed to positively transforming society,” said Jessica Dowd, director of the Department of Economic and Business Sciences and Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Human Economic Sciences of the UCSP.
The Department of Economic and Business Sciences of said House of Studies proposed the investiture to Velarde. The ceremony was chaired by the rector of the San Pablo, Alonso Quintanilla Pérez-Wicht.
Quintanilla stressed that the distinction of Doctor Honoris Causa recognizes not only the individual excellence of Julio Velarde, but also highlights the vocation of the UCSP for promoting economic leadership committed to ethics, innovation and integral development of the country.
“Thanks to Dr. Velarde and the team formed by him, the BCR is today a leading institution in the world that has grown up in influence and prestige for its vision, human quality and professionalism, associated with its strong sense of purpose and service in our country, which has contributed decisively to a monetary stability that is desired and admired by many other countries,” said Quintanilla.
Outstanding trajectory
Among Velarde’s merits that led the UCSP to pay tribute, he highlighted not only his exceptional technical capacity and solid academic training, but also his remarkable commitment to scientific rigor, institutional autonomy and the constant search for monetary and financial stability.
According to the House of Studies, these values are clearly reflected in its extensive and recognized management at the head of the BCR, an institution that leads since September 2006, having been successively ratified by various governments thanks to the technical confidence that inspires its management.
As leader of the Central Bank, Velarde has successfully faced various global macroeconomic challenges, especially highlighting its prudent and strategic management in critical situations such as the International Financial Crisis of 2008 and the Global Pandemic of COVID-19. In both contexts, their successful technical decisions have contributed to maintaining inflation under control and ensuring the country’s financial stability.
In addition to its national functions, it has presided over multilateral organizations such as the Latin American Reserve Fund (FLAR) and the Intergovernmental Group of the twenty -four countries (G24). He is also an active member of the Advisory Council for the Americas of the International Payment Bank (BIS).
On the academic level, its merits range from having obtained the Special Prize Robert Maes in 1974, for having held the first position of its promotion at the University of the Pacific, a house of studies where he exercised different positions, becoming dean of his Faculty of Economics.
Its academic production includes numerous books and scientific articles on monetary policy, macroeconomic stability, inflation and structural reforms, making it one of the most consulted economic authors and cited in the Peruvian and international economic field.
Its lines of research are: monetary policy, inflation, macroeconomic stability, financial system, credit intermediation and financial informality and liberalization of markets and economic reforms in Peru.
Prior to this activity, the outstanding official provided the master conference: “The role of monetary policy and the foundations of the Peruvian economy.”
More distinctions
To the title of Doctor Honoris Causa granted by the San Pablo Catholic University, similar distinctions from other universities are added, such as the University of Lima (August 2025), the Lord of Sipán University (July 2025) and the San Ignacio de Loyola University (September 2024).
In addition, in April 2025, the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM) gave him the Sanmarquina Honor Medal in Grand Officer, which is the highest award granted by this house of studies.
In 2023, the University of the Pacific, his Alma Mater, granted him the title of Professor Emeritus.
Velarde also received the medal for business merit and the trajectory in the public service for the Confiep, in 2024.
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