From its formation until today, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, countries that make up the Pacific Alliance, have been articulating efforts to turn this block into a leader in business and opportunities, resulting in its position as the eighth largest economy in the world and export power.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, the bloc accounts for 37% of GDP, it concentrates 52% of total trade and attracts 45% of foreign direct investment.

In April 2011, the Pacific Alliance was created with the aim of achieving the development and competitiveness of the Member States, to overcome socio-economic inequality, to promote the social inclusion of its inhabitants and to become a projection platform to the world with special emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region.

In order to achieve these objectives, activities have been performed focused on obtaining greater competitiveness, as well as growth and development in trade, which will be achieved with the progressive advance of the free movement of goods, services, capital and people.

The joint work of the member countries is evidenced by the massive presence of entrepreneurs of the bloc in different activities and promotion fairs that take place around the world, both their own and those organized by other entities.

Among the most representative activities carried out by the Pacific Alliance since its creation, is the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Forum LAB4+, which in its six editions has had the participation of 6.192 attendees.

Also, the Women Entrepreneurs Leaders Forum, which, in its four versions, has generated US $9.4 million in business expectations.

On the other hand, the Pacific Alliance Business Matchmaking, in its six editions, has accumulated US $861.8 million in business. It is important to mention that the Business Meeting has become the main platform that brings together important leaders and entrepreneurs of the region, both from the bloc countries and from some observer States.

It is worth highlighting the implementation of the Investment Opportunities Forum of the Pacific Alliance with the participation of the Heads of State of the bloc, which is held every year in New York, United States and that has brought together the most important companies worldwide, interested in doing business or financing projects in the member countries.

Tourism has also been a priority topic for the Pacific Alliance, for this reason the Tourism Business Matchmaking, the Tourism Roadshow in China and the Tourist Caravan have been carried out.

In Addition, the Pacific Alliance has been present at international fairs with excellent business expectations such as Sial (France), Lateinamerika Tag (Germany) as well as panels such as “The London Produce” (United Kingdom).

Every year is a new challenge for this economic bloc, which expects in the medium term to be placed in a better position among the economies of the globe for the development and benefit of its more than 225 million inhabitants.

On May 10^th, the XXI Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Pacific Alliance, formed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, was held in Mexico City.

One of the main objectives of the Council was to review the preparations for the Lima Summit, which will take place on July 5^th and 6^th in that Peruvian city, with the presence of the Heads of State of the countries of the mechanism.

During the meeting, the Ministers signed a first decision linked to the entry into force of the Cooperation Fund starting on July 6th, which will allow the development and financing of joint projects to generate greater opportunities for citizens and the strengthening of capacities for SMEs.

They also approved the establishment of the Technical Group of Development and Social Inclusion with the aim of advancing in the construction of a more citizen-friendly Pacific Alliance, one of the fundamental axes of the 2030 Strategic Vision.

In addition, recognizing the importance of continuing to move forward in an orderly and efficient manner, they reviewed the progress of the Work Plan for the implementation of Strategic Vision 2030, which will be presented next July, and will establish a medium and long-term route for the four countries.

On the other hand, the Council of Ministers made a positive assessment and welcomed the interest of Ecuador and Korea in approaching the Pacific Alliance. The results achieved at the latest meetings of chief negotiators of the PA on the process with the candidates to be Associated States, held between May 4th and 8th, were reviewed.

This meeting also allowed to review the status of the Declarations that the PA will subscribe with the EU, the Eurasian Economic Commission, the OECD and Japan, as well as the Declaration on Environmental Issues. These are instruments that must be subscribed in the framework of the XIV Lima Summit to be held on July 5th and 6th.

Likewise, the entry of two new AP Observer States was agreed: Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, bringing the number of members in this category to 57.

The Pacific Alliance is a regional integration mechanism that aspires to be consolidated as a common economic platform with a projection to the Asia-Pacific and the world.

Today, April 28th, the eighth anniversary of the Pacific Alliance, recognized worldwide as one of the region’s most successful integration mechanisms, is celebrated. Peru, Chile, Colombia and Mexico commemorate this important event, carrying out various activities simultaneously.

In Peru, the country that holds the Pro Tempore Presidency, the flags of the four countries and the Pacific Alliance were hoisted at the Government Palace. Also, the projection of the colors, logo and informative video of this important mechanism of integration in the Magic Water Circuit at the Parque de la Reserva (Park of the Reserve) is planned to be performed this Sunday, April 28^th at night.

It is also worth mentioning the implementation in Lima, on April 23rd and 24th, of the I Technical Forum of Cooperation of the Pacific Alliance with its Observer States, in whose framework, the first portfolio of projects was announced; the IX Session of the Inter-parliamentary Committee for follow-up to the Pacific Alliance, at the Congress of the Republic, on the 24th and 25th of this month; and the launch of the Public Policy Index for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Latin America and the Caribbean (IPPALC, by its acronym in Spanish), on April 25th and 26th. Finally, on April 26th, a Film Series was inaugurated at the Inca Garcilaso Cultural Center, with the participation of the Embassies of Chile, Colombia and Mexico in Peru.

In the case of Chile, the eight years of creation of this regional integration effort, the most transcendental carried out in Latin America in the last decades will be commemorated with the raising of the flags of Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and the Pacific Alliance at the La Moneda Palace, presidential seat of the Chilean Government since 1922, as well as with the dissemination of various cases of citizens who have benefited from the achievements of this area of deep integration.

In Colombia, the Chat Show “Pacific Alliance: from expectation to reality” was held on April 24th. This talk was accompanied by a gastronomic demonstration entitled “Flavors of the Alliance”. Also, between April 22th and 28th, the San Carlos Palace, headquarters of the Foreign Ministry, wore the flags of the four countries. To conclude, on May 30th, a seminar will be held in Bogota aimed at Colombian entrepreneurs, where the main advances and opportunities in trade, investment and tourism will be presented; organized by ProColombia.

For its part, the Government of Mexico will name a park in Mexico City as “Parque Alianza del Pacífico”. The inauguration will take place within the framework of the XXI Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Alliance, which will be held on May 10th in the capital of the country. The park is a symbol of the deep integration between Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Its purpose is also to make the Alliance “more citizen-friendly” according to the 2030 Strategic Vision.

The Pacific Alliance is a mechanism of deep integration that was created on April 28th, 2011, with the signing of the Lima Declaration. It is projected to the world with emphasis in the Asia-Pacific region, promoting greater growth, development and competitiveness, through the free movement of goods, services, capital and people. The 2030 Strategic Vision projects the Pacific Alliance as the main commercial integration platform in Latin America and reinforces its actions as a more integrated, more global, more connected and more citizen-oriented mechanism.