At Rumbo a PERUMIN – Central Peru Edition, specialists analyzed the progress and opportunities mining provides in Ayacucho, Huancavelica, and Ica, and agreed that mining is generating a large number of resources, which, if used correctly, will  have a huge effect on overcoming social gaps and reducing poverty.

Journalist Mario Cueto pointed out that mining has been one of the main faces of economic and social development in Ayacucho, together with agricultural and tourism activities; however, he emphasized that social conflicts continue to be a major obstacle for the extractive industry, so it is necessary to work on a strategy.

"We must be more transparent, highlighting the benefits and advantages of mining to the population, the resources it contributes and the social gaps overcome. There must also be a policy to prevent social conflicts, with the involvement of our authorities, and the commitment to strengthen the Regional Mining Directorate," he suggested.

In turn, Richard Webb, director of Instituto del Peru, argued that mining and agriculture should not be understood as two separate activities, as both complement and enhance each other through the purchase of food, the implementation of water and electricity services, the construction of reservoirs, among other social initiatives.

"In Huancavelica, the provinces of Angaraes and Acobamba have different productive infrastructures; the former benefits from mining and the latter from agriculture. However, they share similarities, since the people who work in mining continue to work in parallel in their farms, investing in them thanks to their new income," he explained.

For his part, Eduardo Ojeda, chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Ica, underscored that the good social and economic indicators achieved by his region has been thanks to private investment, especially from mining, agriculture, and tourism, which has led Ica to take the fifth place among the most competitive departments in the country.

"In terms of infrastructure in Ica, the mining sector is very important, since we have the San Juan de Marcona - Apurimac railroad project, which is a private initiative and will be key in the development of both the region and the mining sector, and will help us overcome the social conflicts that often block the corridors to the port," he stated.