Economy of Arequipa

The city of Arequipa has certain characteristics which give it economic importance, among which are:

It has an important administrative, agricultural, commercial, financial and industrial role in the area of international trade.

It is the city of greatest economic diversification in the country.

The city of Arequipa contributed 74.2% of the 7.7% of GDP provided by the department of Arequipa in national GDP.

It concentrates 42% of the SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in the southern region, generating 52% of the regional SAP, and SAP has the largest trade amounting to 50,000 workers.

The city of Arequipa from the 20th century has developed industries related to the primary sector and the alpaca and wool industries, providing a center of exchange and mediation in the southern Andes, and serving as a link between the coast and the mountains.

The city of Arequipa, in the "Specialized Household Survey on Employment Levels 2007", is the city after Lima with the largest number of people economically suitable for work amounting to 625,547 people, and the most economically active population (PEA) which amounts to 376,764 people. In the same survey the city of Arequipa has a rate of work activity above the national average.

The economically active population is distributed as follows: quarrying activities (7.1%), manufacturing (12.9%), construction (4.8%), trade (23%), non-personal services