By Juan Luis Reus, Deputy Director UK Trade & Investment, Peru
Ecobuild 2012 in the UK is one of the most important and largest world Expos for the construction sector, with a major emphasis on sustainable construction for preserving our environment and conserving energy resources. This is the perfect place to be right now for a country like Peru, who is experiencing a construction boom in both public and private sector projects, including hospitals, schools, shopping centres, residential buildings, etc. What is more important is that an emerging economy like Peru needs to build a lot and fast, but also with an enhanced consciousness for environmental protection and sustainability.
The British Embassy in Lima participated in Ecobuild accompanying the Peruvian delegates together with colleagues from Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador. Most delegates are representing construction companies and conglomerates who have several business projects, including large construction projects. We are also joined by prestigious architects who are seeking the latest trends on eco designs, and also, by associations such as the Green Business Council, who are working in Peru and in other countries in Latin America to increasing the number of projects for minimising any negative impacts on the environment.
Five Peruvian delegates participated. Hector Miranda from the Peru Green Business Council; Jose Orrego from Metropolis; Analu Granda from COINSA; Jose Villanueva from CV Projects, and Diego De La Torre from La Viga.
We had a very interesting programme that included visiting EXPOBUILD from 20 to 22 of March and we also took part in other meetings with British companies that are worldwide leaders in the construction business. However, I believe the highlight of the trip for many of us was the visit to London’s Olympic Park. All delegates were talking about it and were looking forward to the guided visit. London already deserves a gold medal on the efficient preparations for the Olympics, including the building of the lightest Olympic Stadium in history, which means that carbon emissions were kept to a minimum during the whole construction process. This is in fact one of the many examples how UK designers, construction companies and providers to construction companies are leading this new trend.
I wrote the first part of this blog during the flight from Lima to Amsterdam accompanied on the plane by Hector Miranda from the Peru Green Business Council, who is leading on education and awareness about the benefits of eco friendly design and construction with a lower foot carbon print and Diego De la Torre from La Viga . One of Diego’s businesses is a cement company, where he is looking to introduce a more eco friendly cement product in Peru. He also has other ideas and business projects he shared at his presentation before British entrepreneurs at British Expertise on 22/03. Hector also did a presentation on how Peru’s new construction drive is beginning to incorporate a large eco friendly component.
Analu arrived to London before us and Jose Orrego and Jose Villanueva travelled to London from Paris. Analu was also present at British Expertise with her companies’ projects.
This story will continue with our week’s experience at Ecobuild.