Memorandums of Understanding Signed Covering Education, Trade, Agriculture, and Culture
Agreement Marks Peru’s First Partnership with a U.S. State
(Washington, D.C.) – President Ollanta Humala, Ambassador Harold Forsyth and Delaware Governor Jack Markell met on Tuesday in Washington to discuss cooperation between the Republic of Peru and the State of Delaware, covering agriculture, education, science and technology, culture and trade.
“The cooperation between Peru and the government of Delaware indicates our interest in being connected with one of the most dynamic regional economies in the USA,” said President Humala. “We are looking forward to amplifying our trade and commercial relationship to the benefit of our people.”
They were also joined by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Eda Rivas; Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Mr. José Luis Silva Martinot; Minister of Defense, Pedro Cateriano; Chairman of the Science and Technology, Dr. Maria Orjeda.; Delaware Secretary of State, Mr. Jeffrey Bullock, President of the University of Delaware, Dr. Patrick Harker; and Executive Director of the Diamond State Port Corporation, Mr. Gene Bailey.
Ambassador Forsyth and Governor Markell signed an agreement to cement Peru’s first partnership with a U.S. state. The document establishes a framework for dialogue that builds on complementary strengths, including Peru’s rapidly growing agricultural exports, the role of Delaware’s seaport as the leading North American port for perishables, and opportunities for academic collaboration.
“We’re excited and honored to work together with Peru to explore new ways to create jobs in both of our countries,” said Governor Markell. “Delaware is a state of neighbors, so we know how to identify opportunities together and then move quickly to get things done. Our experience with the Embassy shows that Peru has a similar approach – open, practical and innovative.”
“Our Embassy is very pleased in being a bridge between Delaware and our country. We appreciate the mutual understanding between both parties, and we expect to excel in terms of cooperation and trade opportunities,” said Ambassador Forsyth.
Ambassador Forsyth, on behalf of the National Port Authority of Peru, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mr. Bailey, representing the Diamond State Port Corporation, a Delaware state entity which owns and operates the Port of Wilmington, to collaborate in strengthening port competitiveness, develop joint promotion events, and exchange information.
Peru is a leading exporter of asparagus, organic coffee, organic cacao, and organic bananas worldwide. Peru’s diversity of climates and soils makes it possible to grow crops as varied as quinoa, asparagus, mangos, grapes, artichokes, avocado, and paprika, among many others.
As the largest port for bananas in the Western Hemisphere and the leading fruit seaport in the U.S., Delaware’s seaport serves as a major distribution center for perishable cargo on the East Coast. With overnight delivery to 200 million North American consumers, the Port of Wilmington, Delaware is well placed to share information and technical experience with Peruvian ports and agricultural exporters.
“This is a very exciting opportunity for the Port of Wilmington to forge a maritime and trade relationship with the economically vibrant country of Peru and its strong network of ports,” said Gene Bailey. “We are honored on this occasion and eagerly look forward to the many opportunities for collaboration and cooperation incorporated in this Memorandum of Understanding.”
Dr. Patrick Harker, President of the University of Delaware, presented a letter to President Humala, confirming the University’s intention to host graduate students through the President’s hallmark Beca 18 program for high-achieving, low-income youth. The University will work closely with the Embassy and the Peruvian Department of Education over the next few months to finalize the details and conclude an agreement.
“The University of Delaware is thrilled to partner with the government of Peru and its Ministry of Education to welcome dozens of Peruvian students each year into UD’s top graduate programs—particularly those in the STEM sectors, which underpin economic growth,” said UD President Patrick Harker. “The University has enjoyed a long and close relationship with Peru, advanced by the understanding that our mutual strength is reinforced when we invest in high-quality education and open students’ access to it.”
Fact Sheet:
Port of Wilmington, Delaware
- Wilmington is roughly half way between New York City and Washington, DC. The Port of Wilmington, Delaware is the first and busiest port on the Delaware river.
- North America’s #1 fruit, juice concentrates and tropical fruit seaport.
- The produce trade through the Port of Wilmington, Delaware supports 2,660 jobs directly and indirectly.
- A major distribution center providing an overnight delivery to 200 million North American consumers of fruit and juice.
- North America’s largest on-dock cold storage complex aggregating 800,000 sf. (74,322m²).
- The Port of Wilmington, Delaware has handled more than 750,000 boxes of Peruvian grapes since 2008.
Peruvian Agriculture
- Peru is the third largest country in South America, with almost 2.2 million hectares of cultivated land, and an agricultural potential of 7.6 million hectares.
- Peru is a top exporter of asparagus, organic coffee, organic cacao, and organic bananas worldwide.
- Peru’s location in the southern hemisphere allows it to supply off-season products to the United States.
- Peru’s diversity of climates and soils makes it possible to grow crops as varied as quinoa, asparagus, mangos, grapes, artichokes, avocado and paprika, among many others.
- Exports from agriculture exceeded US$ 4.2 billion in 2012. Peru aims to double exports every five years, aiming for US$ 6 billion in agricultural exports for 2015.
University of Delaware
- The University of Delaware (UD) is a Land Grant, Sea Grant, Space Grant, Carnegie Research University (very high research activity). The University, with origins in 1743, was chartered by the State of Delaware in 1833.
- UD’s Art Conservation Department includes one of the leading Master’s-level graduate programs in art conservation worldwide. The program, jointly sponsored with Winterthur Museum, focuses on the examination, analysis, treatment and care of paintings, textiles, ceramics, metals, works of art on paper and other cultural artifacts around the world. The Department Chair, Dr. Debra Hess Norris, recently led a workshop in Lima on photographic heritage preservation for 100 museum and library professionals. Dr. Jennifer Mass taught a program for Peruvian conservators, and is also collaborating with Dr. Patricia Gonzales of the Sección Química of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. UD students have worked to restore sculptures at the Santa Teresa Monastery Museum, including Jose Luis Lazarte Luna of Peru, who was recently awarded one of only ten highly competitive Art Conservation Fellowships.
- UD’s College of Engineering is home to one of the top ten engineering programs in the United States. Faculty members are devoted to building a community of problem-solvers focused on challenges associated with sustainability, energy, health care and the environment.
- UD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources features programs in Animal and Food Sciences, Applied Economics and Statistics, Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, and Plant and Soil Sciences. The college is internationally renowned in the areas of avian biosciences, plant molecular biology, and soil and environmental quality.
- The University of Delaware has a signed General Agreement and Supplemental Agreement with the Pontifica Universidad Catolica del Peru, dating back to 2002, that utilized the University of Delaware’s expertise in Problem-Based Learning to improve the teaching of mathematics, physics, and chemistry through innovative pedagogical approaches.
- In recognition of his work with the Pontifica Universidad Catolica del Peru on Problem-Based Learning, George Watson, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, received an honorary professorship from the university in 2007.
- The University of Delaware is an international institution: UD offered the first study-abroad program in the world in 1923, and celebrates its 90th anniversary of study abroad in 2013. The UD School of Nursing organized a summer session Study Abroad trip to Peru in 2012.