On Monday we had our first full day in business attire, and some
of those sunburned necks from Machu Picchu were NOT happy to have collars and ties around
them. We started off at the International Potato Center, one of 16 such facilities around
the world dedicated to performing extensive research on a particular commodity.
Among other things, in the Genetic Resources Lab we heard how they have taken a
gene from an Alaskan fish to make potatoes frost resistant. |
Chairs for the day: Kim Morton (L) and Robb Mullins, along with Gaspar Nolte, U.S.
Embassy Foreign Agriculture Service
|
Senoir Minister Rodolfo Munante
|
From there it was on to Banco de Credito, the largest bank in
Peru. Gonzalo Alvarez-Calderon, head of Investor Relations and VP - General Manager,
welcomed us and provided us with comments on the Peruvian economy. We were also addressed
by Gabriel Seminario, of Alicorp, the country’s largest food processor. (Banco de
Credito and Alicorp are both owned by the Romero group.) One of Alicorp’s competitive
advantages is their distribution system, which stocks the shelves of over 40,000 small
groceries across Peru. Without the large food store chains of the U.S., having this system
in place provides a formidable barrier to competition. Banco de Credito hosted a wonderful
lunch in their executive dining room, providing class members the opportunity to visit
with our speakers and the agriculture attaches from the U.S. Embassy that spent much time
with us during our stay in Peru.
We saw an impressive private collection of artifacts, including arms and textiles,
at the Gold Museum, one of Lima's most popular attractions. At least one class member
purchased some jewelry, while many others window shopped with ever helpful suggestions
from other members of the class. |
| Our final stop was at the Ministry of Agriculture, where we were
briefed by Senior Minister Rodolfo Munante, (the pronunciation of whose name was practiced
over and over by the chairman who took French not thinking she’d ever need to
introduce a foreign dignitary with a Spanish name.) Sr. Munante was most interested in
taking our questions. We did not disappoint him! |
The Class at the International Potato Center
|
