Jaime Quijandria
PEOPLE PROFILE is part of the Latinnews Daily service. Published every Tuesday,
People Profile describes the professional background of key people emerging on the political and economic scene.
Who is JAIME QUIJANDRIA?
Peru's new economy and finance minister. Appointed on 25 July to replace outgoing economy and finance minister Javier Silva Ruete, who filled the vacancy at the central bank in the wake of Richard Webb's recent resignation, Quijandría was previously energy and mines minister.
Why watch him?
The replacement of Silva Ruete with Quijandría is President Alejandro Toledo's second political play in the space of 50 days, changing the feel of his cabinet in a bid to relaunch the government. Assailed by critics for his ineffectual government, Toledo backed Quijandría, a successful businessman respected for his management skills.
THE FILE
Born:
19 June, 1943. Lima, Peru.
Education:
An economist, specialising in energy, he studied at the Universidad Agraria de la Molina. He has a Master's in Social Sciences (The Hague) and completed a postgraduate course in economy and government at Essex University, Great Britain.
Public Life:
An engineer and economist, Quijandría is a respected businessman in Peru. Before serving as Toledo's energy and mines minister, he was the president of the oil company
YPF.
Timeline:
1980-2001
Director of national planning institute and president of ENCI.
Deputy minister of Economy
President of state-owned oil company Petroperú
Consultant for United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
Deputy secretary of the Latin American Integration Association, Aladi
General executive of Lima Gas and YPF
2001
Energy and mines minister
2003
Minister of economy and finance
Strong points:
He represents a line of continuity in the pro-market policies of Toledo and his predecessor at the economy ministry, Javier Silva Ruete. He is a renowned businessman, who should be able to cultivate greater levels of foreign investment. He is well known as a good administrator and the opposition recognises him as a skilful negotiator.
Weak points:
He will have to fight against public disenchantment with President Toledo, who has made pro-market policies, reform, privatisation and closer relations with the US, the cornerstone of his administration. Quijandría shares the neoliberal tag of his predecessor. The opposition inflicted a resounding defeat on Toledo in the last elections (regional elections last November) by attacking his adherence to neoliberal policies over social reform. Quijandría was heavily criticised as energy and mines minister by segments of the public and the political opposition for his willingness to open up Peru to foreign investment and sell off state assets.
Prospects:
Peru has controlled key variables such as inflation, but the economy has stuttered somewhat this year after achieving 5% growth in 2002. In just two years, Toledo has forfeited nearly all of the popular goodwill with which he was elected, to the extent that he trails former president Alberto Fujimori in opinion polls. Quijandría is one of the key elements in Toledo's efforts to inject fresh life into his jaded government.