Peru's Huánuco region promoting US$660mn investments

Huánuco region, located in the mountains of central Peru, has a portfolio of 26 public projects costing around 2.5bn soles (US$662mn) to be developed in the short and medium term.

Among the most attractive of them are the construction of an industrial park (250mn soles) and six hydroelectric plants, as well as initiatives for basic infrastructure, health and tourism.

This was stated by officials from the region in an event hosted by investment promotion agency ProInversión. According to Antonio Pulgar, governor of Huánuco, the region has great tourism potential but also many infrastructure gaps to cover. To remedy that, it requires a boost from private investors.

“Huánuco is currently a region that depends more on the public sector, but we need the private sector to be our partner,” the official said.

BRIEFCASE

Of the 26 projects presented by regional authorities, nine will be carried out via PPPs, one through an asset project and the rest through the works for taxes (OxI) scheme.

The PPPs include six hydroelectric plants that involve combined investments of 686mn soles. Although two of these plants were initially proposed by the national government – Huallaga 3 (178mn soles) and Huertas (224mn soles), both will be promoted by the government of Huánuco.

The PPP portfolio also involves two important health projects: operation and maintenance of the Hermilio Valdizán regional hospital (426mn soles) and a cancer prevention and treatment hospital for 187mn soles. The last initiative involves building a cable car for 55.8mn soles for tourism purposes.

“From 2022 to 2023, the influx of national tourists to our main destination – the city of Tingo María – multiplied by 10, similar to the influx of international tourists. A cable car project in this city is going to be absolutely profitable for any private party,” Leslie Zevallos, general manager of the Huánuco government, said during his presentation.

In the case of asset projects – a type of public-private partnership developed on state-owned land – there is a proposal to create an industrial park in Tingo María costing 250mn soles.

“The regional government has land that is already being protected. The project would benefit half a million people, and the contract scheme will be for surface rights,” Zevallos added.

With respect to the OxI scheme – a program under which public infrastructure projects can be financed in lieu of tax payments by companies – there are 16 projects outlined costing an estimated 873mn soles, including improvements to the Huancachupa-La Esperanza bridge (324mn soles) and the upgrade of services at the La Unión hospital (136mn soles).

Other OxI projects include three educational initiatives for 89mn soles, three tourism developments for 29.5mn soles and several other smaller projects.