The president of the Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL), Roberto De La Torre, highlighted the need to have a regulatory framework for Special Economic Zones (ZEE) in the country, pointing out that these spaces are essential to attract investments.
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Currently, Congress is pending a vote on the opinion that would promote the creation of privately managed SEZs. According to De La Torre, it is crucial that this initiative be approved before the APEC forum, as it would send a positive signal to potential investors.
“The Inter-American Development Bank estimates that approximately US$70 billion in investments will move from Asia to our region. “Colombia already has a plan to raise US$11 billion, while Peru has not yet taken measures in that regard,” he told this newspaper.
However, De La Torre pointed out that some aspects of the legislative project should be modified. One of them is the minimum area required for the development of a SEZ, currently established at 140 hectares, which, according to him, would limit the creation of these zones to the capital and make their implementation difficult in other regions of the country.
“It is also necessary to review the minimum investment amount. In other countries in the region, the operator must invest US$2 million, while here it is intended to require US$8 million. In addition, the user in Peru would be asked for a minimum investment of US$6 million, something that does not happen in other countries,” he added. This would especially affect micro and small businesses.
Another point of discussion is the income tax (IR). The initial proposal from Congress establishes a rate of 15%, but for the union it would be more effective to start with an exemption, setting a rate of 0% that increases gradually.
“According to studies, for every dollar of taxes not collected in income, the return for the country is seven times more, considering income from VAT, employment and other concepts,” De La Torre pointed out.
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