Doha, 04 August 2022 (QT)

By Ashraf Siddiqui

PERU and Qatar share excellent relations and both countries are working hard to enhance ties in several sectors, the Ambassador of the Republic of Peru to Qatar HE Dr. Jose A. Benzaquen Perea said at a community get-together in the embassy premises.

“We are working on a comprehensive investment agreement, and we are also promoting our ties with Qatar in education, culture, health and sports fields,” he said while addressing community members who had gathered at the embassy to commemorate Peru’s 201st Independence Day.

“Our Independence Day marks unity and stability. This day is celebrated by the whole country in a territory of more than one million square kilometres, in all Peruvian cities, and by the 3 million Peruvian community around the world,” the envoy said.

“We emphasize that the National Day of the Republic of Peru is not only a date for celebration, it’s also a great message that we do not retreat from dreams, no matter the difficulties,” he added.

Peru, the envoy noted, was undergoing massive economic improvement in the last year “and we have the third lowest inflation rate at the regional level, in Latin
America. Inflation in our country will be positioned in the third place during the next year with a rate of 3.3%. It is projected that inflation in Peru will occupy the second place in 2024 with 2.9% and with 2.7% in 2025”.

Geraldine Mory, a passionate teacher at a special needs Doha school, who’s been living in Qatar with her Sri Lankan husband, said that although her parents live
in Qatar – her father is a pilot with Qatar Airways – the National Day is one when she feels homesick and misses her country. She thanked the embassy of Peru for providing an opportunity to Peruvian expatriates to celebrate their National Day together.

Mariella Pamela Aza Santillan, a business development consultant who arrived in Qatar recently to establish an authentic Peruvian fine dining restaurant, also thanked the Peruvian embassy for organising the National Day celebrations along with the expatriate community. “It was a wonderful feeling to be among
compatriots and we had the opportunity to meet and get to know each other.”

Talking about Qatar, she said that although it was just a couple of months since she arrived here, she has come across a large number of nationals from different countries. “I have learned about local culture and norms. Qatar is so safe, so peaceful, that I just simply love Qatar.”

Alexandra Ravello, from Lima, the Capital of Peru, by profession a lawyer and by hobby a football player herself with the women’s local team, is on her third visit
to Qatar. She had come all the way to watch and support the Peru team against Australia in May. The last time she came to Qatar was to watch the FIFA Arab Cup
2021.

She had also been to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and now is very anxious to watch the World Cup in Qatar.

“It was so emotional celebrating the National Day far away from the motherland and being among our small community in the amazing country of Qatar,” she said.

Meanwhile, the National Day event was followed by a traditional luncheon hosted by the embassy where a variety of Peruvian cuisines were served including Aji de Gallina (spicy cuisine made from tacos, eggs, rice, beans and potatoes); Ceviche (cooked in lime juice) and Lomo Saltado (a stir fry that combines marinated strips of sirloin with onion, French fries and tomatoes).