The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism announced on March 25 that the National Program for Technological Development and Innovation (ProInnóvate) and the National Institute of Quality (INACAL) have joined the Ruta Productiva Exportadora (RPE) initiative. The announcement was made by César Llona, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, during his participation in a panel at the I Cumbre de la Red CITE del Instituto Tecnológico de la Producción.
The inclusion of ProInnóvate and INACAL is intended to strengthen access to innovation financing, improve quality standards, and help develop a more competitive export offering with greater added value. Llona said it is important to build a solid institutional framework that positions innovation as an essential part of national policy.
Llona highlighted that Peru has advanced in creating strategic tools recognizing innovation as key to productive and export development. He cited policies such as the National Policy for Industrial Development, the National Plan for Competitiveness and Productivity, and the Multisectoral National Policy on Foreign Trade toward 2040. However, he said effective coordination remains a major challenge in implementing these tools.
He also emphasized strengthening coordination within the National System of Science, Technology, and Innovation (SINACTI) to ensure better program alignment and efficiency. According to Llona: “For innovation to transcend sector boundaries, the country must have articulated policy instruments focused on results.” He pointed out successful initiatives like RPE that link multisectoral services with capacity building for high-potential export chains through collaboration among public entities and academia.
Llona concluded by stating: “Innovation must be closely linked to international markets by promoting differentiation, sustainability, and sophistication of Peruvian products in an increasingly demanding global context.”
