In 2021, Peru celebrates 200 years of independence. Since then, the country has emerged as a regional economic force, having experienced annual growth rates above 5% from 2002 to 2013. From 2014 to 2019, growth slowed to around 3% per year, a result of low international commodities prices. Peru, however, was well equipped to manage what could otherwise have been described as a crisis, thanks to some nimble fiscal maneuvering. That was coupled with the coming online of new mining projects, which saw the current account deficit slashed to just 1.5% in 2019. It is our hope that this 45-page special report form both an important snapshot of the Peruvian economy, as well as a looking glass to the near future, beyond COVID-19, when the country once again hopes to shine.
Colombia is undergoing a period of generation-marking adversity. And saying this of Colombia is a tall order given a tumultuous yesterday of armed conflict and internal mass displacement. Today's struggles are of a different nature, however. President Duque has had to give simultaneous management to the COVID-19 health crisis, the Venezuelan refugee crisis, and an expanding fiscal deficit situation that lost the country its investment-grade rating. All this against a backdrop of mass social discontent manifested by record-setting civilian protest. Considering this concoction of challenges, Colombian business leaders have demonstrated the exceptional traits of resilience that characterize this country's people. This edition of The Business Year: Colombia is dedicated to them. This 188-page publication aims to paint a picture of Colombia's current economic condition, examining each major sector through exclusive interviews, as well as news and analysis, from from finance to energy and transport to tourism.
Feeding an expected global population of 9 billion by 2050 is a daunting challenge that is engaging hundreds of millions of farmers, food processors, traders, researchers, technical experts, and leaders the world over. Fish and other aquatic products from aquaculture can and will play a major role in meeting the dietary demands of all people, while also meeting the food security needs of the poorest. To realize the maximum contributions of the aquaculture sector toward achieving the targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030, coordinated and accelerated actions are required. Not only must these actions increase sustainable production, but also address the broader value chain, markets, and decent employment. Recognizing the critical importance of aquaculture, and the need to exchange and discuss reliable information to further enhance its contribution to sustainable development, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), at the request of its Members, collaborated with the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, to organize the Global Conference on Aquaculture Millennium +20 (GCA +20), 22–25 September 2021, in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China. Under the theme “Aquaculture for food and sustainable development”, the GCA +20 aimed to bring stakeholders from government, business, academia, and civil society together to identify the policy and technology innovations, investment opportunities and fruitful areas of cooperation in aquaculture for food and sustainable development. A key output from the GCA +20 – the Shanghai Declaration on Aquaculture for Food and Sustainable Development – highlights the principles and strategic pathways to maximize sustainable aquaculture in achieving the SDGs, with a special focus on “Leaving no one behind”.
