Lima, February 18 (RHC-Mercopress) -- Peru and the United States have signed a Memorandum of Intention on Technical and Promotional Cooperation for Strengthening Trade Facilitation Capacities, with the aim of fostering development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through training and professionalization of human resources.

The accord was signed by U.S. Ambassador to Peru Brian Nichols and Peru's Minister of Foreign Trade and tourism, Magali Silva.

The agreement will ensure the promotion and implementation of trade facilitation activities, capacity strengthening programs, and exchange of information on issues of mutual interest, with emphasis on those that make an impact in support of SMEs. It will also to seek establish public-private strategic alliances to promote Peru’s Single Window for Foreign Trade (Vuce).

Silva highlighted the fact that the United States is the second largest destination for Peruvian products, with exports worth US$6.1 billion in 2014, which accounted for 16% of total exports.

“This is an important step within the development of joint activities aimed at easing bilateral trade, which will boost initiatives to strengthen the Single Window for Foreign Trade,” she added.