• Elmer Cuba, partner of Macroconsult, highlighted the importance of the rule of law for economic development and the impacts of conflicts that violated this balance.

Elmer Cuba, partner of Macroconsult, participated as a panelist in Road to PERUMIN "Challenges of Social Conflict Management", where he highlighted that the rule of law is fundamental for economic growth; however, he also recognized that sometimes this is not fulfilled in our country.

"The rule of law in Peru is usually complied with, but not always, as in the case of Conga or Tia Maria; the case of Las Bambas that seasonally has to stop operating; in Madre de Dios where mining activity is prohibited, but it is not complied with; or in Puno during this summer that was taken over by a group of violent people," Cuba pointed out.

In this sense, he considered it important to strengthen public management so that the rule of law is respected and to take advantage of the benefits of economic activities such as mining, which represents the sector that contributes the most resources in the shortest time and these serve as a source of financing for closing gaps at the national level.

"If we had a stronger state maybe we could enforce the law to the fullest extent," he said.

At another point, he commented on the consequences of conflicts that took place in the country between December 2022 and March 2023, which, in addition to being of a social nature, were of a political and economic nature.

"Puno has lived through January, February and most of March in an almost state of siege. According to preliminary calculations we have made at Macroconsult, Puno's GDP would have fallen in the first quarter by 20%. This is in an economy of war, and it was due to the actions of Puno's own people. Even in Cusco, the GDP would have fallen 10% in the first quarter and in the year it will grow zero", said Cuba.

He also added that this year Peru's GDP will grow little, 1.9 %, which is not so bad if we compare it with the region. In this context, he considered that our country will continue to excel as it has one of the best economic models. Even so, he said it was time to rebuild the economy.

"The effect of the political crisis leads us to grow at 2.5% instead of 5-6%. If we continue to grow at that percentage, we will not continue to reduce poverty as we have done in the last 15 years and that is a breeding ground for ideologized groups," he warned.

Road to PERUMIN

Road to PERUMIN is an initiative of the Executive Committee of PERUMIN 36 and the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP) that includes an agenda of virtual conferences aimed at generating spaces for analysis, knowledge and debate on mining.

This program is a prelude to the PERUMIN 36 Mining Convention to be held September 25-29 at the Cerro Juli Convention Center in Arequipa.