Following the election of Peru’s ninth president in a decade, former Peruvian Minister of Energy and Mines Rómulo Mucho emphasized that the country has the necessary conditions to strengthen investor confidence and expand its export potential, provided it consolidates a stable political environment.
Lima, February 24, 2026. Former Minister of Energy and Mines of Peru, Rómulo Mucho, noted that the high presidential turnover of the past decade — most recently marked by the election of José María Balcázar as the ninth head of state since 2016 — has created signals of uncertainty that influence long-term investment decisions. However, he believes the new administration now has an opportunity to reverse that perception and build a more predictable environment for business and investment.
“Peru has demonstrated the resilience of its economy. The challenge now is to take a qualitative leap: consolidate political stability, strengthen institutions, and build confidence,” he said in an interview with the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP).
Mucho stated that Peru has the structural conditions to raise total exports beyond US$100 billion and potentially reach US$120 billion annually. To achieve this, he stressed the importance of ensuring policy continuity, respect for the rule of law, and effective coordination between the Executive Branch and Congress.
“Today, Peru exports approximately US$85–89 billion in total. With strong political stability and administrations that understand economic activity, that figure could significantly exceed US$100 billion,” he said. In mining alone, he added, exports could increase from around US$49 billion to between US$60 billion and US$80 billion.
Clear Signals
In his view, stability goes beyond simply remaining in office; it requires leadership, policy coherence, and clear signals to investors. “Confidence is built on predictability, legal certainty, and a long-term vision. That is what enables the attraction of capital and financing,” he explained.
Mucho, who is also a member of the Program Committee of the World Mining Congress 2026 (WMC), noted that the new government has the opportunity to advance a strong governance agenda focused on investment, growth, and job creation.
“Peru has the potential. If we achieve political stability and effective leadership, we can fully leverage our competitive advantages and make a historic leap in exports and development,” he concluded.
He also highlighted that issues such as investor confidence, legal certainty, and investment frameworks will be key topics at the World Mining Congress 2026, which will bring together more than 3,000 business leaders, government representatives, academics, and researchers in Lima from June 24 to 26, 2026. Registration is available at https://registration.wmc2026.org/
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