LIMA, July 13, 2026 – In a move signaling a renewed emphasis on private sector participation and the urgent closing of national service gaps, the Association for the Promotion of National Infrastructure (AFIN) has officially announced the appointment of Juan Antonio Pacheco Román as the new President of its Board of Directors.
The decision, formalized during the General Assembly of Associates held on July 10, marks a transition in leadership for one of Peru’s most influential business guilds. Pacheco Román, who previously served as the General Manager of AFIN, assumes the presidency with a clear mandate: to catalyze the development of essential infrastructure as the primary vehicle for enhancing the quality of life for millions of Peruvians and restoring the country’s competitive edge on the global stage.
The Profile of a New Leader: Bridging Policy and Practice
Juan Antonio Pacheco Román is a seasoned professional whose career trajectory reflects a deep understanding of the intersection between legal frameworks, financial strategy, and public policy. An attorney by profession, Pacheco holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Corporate Law, a combination that has proven vital in his navigation of complex regulatory environments.
With over 20 years of professional experience across both the public and private sectors, Pacheco brings a unique perspective to AFIN. His previous tenure as the Vice Minister of Communications at the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) provides him with firsthand insight into the bureaucratic and political bottlenecks that often impede infrastructure execution in Peru. This background is complemented by his extensive experience in executive leadership positions within major private sector firms, allowing him to act as an effective bridge between the state and the private entities that drive development.
Chronology of the Leadership Transition
The appointment process followed a structured internal governance path within AFIN:
- Pre-2026: Juan Antonio Pacheco Román serves as General Manager of AFIN, successfully lobbying for policy adjustments and positioning the association as a lead voice in the infrastructure debate.
- July 10, 2026: The General Assembly of Associates convenes to evaluate the strategic direction of the guild. After a thorough review of the association’s objectives for the 2026–2031 cycle, members vote unanimously to elect Pacheco Román as the new President of the Board.
- July 13, 2026: AFIN officially communicates the leadership change to the public and the investor community, setting the tone for the new administration’s focus on the National Infrastructure Plan.
A Strategic Vision: The 2026–2031 Roadmap
Under the leadership of Pacheco Román, AFIN is set to adopt an aggressive, investment-oriented agenda. The core of his strategy involves accelerating the execution of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and advocating for public policies that prioritize the reduction of the "infrastructure gap"—the disparity between the current state of public services and the needs of the population.
The $50 Billion Opportunity
Perhaps the most significant element of the new administration’s platform is the emphasis on the National Infrastructure Plan 2026–2031. Pacheco has identified a robust pipeline of projects that, if executed effectively, could reshape the Peruvian economy.
"We have identified infrastructure projects totaling nearly US$ 50 billion that, in a five-to-six-year horizon, could generate approximately 2 million formal jobs," Pacheco noted during his inaugural remarks. "The methodology behind the National Infrastructure Plan is clear: Peru must accelerate these investments to drive economic growth and competitiveness, with a specific, sharpened focus on social infrastructure."
Addressing the Execution Gap
Pacheco emphasized that his administration will not limit its focus to the projects explicitly prioritized within the current National Infrastructure Plan. A critical component of his agenda involves the "rescue" and activation of projects that already have signed contracts but have languished due to administrative delays, as well as the optimization of the broader ProInversión portfolio. By streamlining the path for these pre-existing commitments, AFIN aims to unlock immediate value in the transport, energy, and sanitation sectors.
The Role of AFIN in the Peruvian Ecosystem
AFIN is not merely a lobby group; it functions as the central representative body for the primary concessionaires of public services in Peru. Its members are the backbone of the country’s connectivity and development, operating in critical areas including:
- Energy: Power generation, transmission, and distribution networks.
- Transport: Airports, ports, highways, and rail concessions.
- Social Infrastructure: Hospitals, schools, and essential public facilities.
- Telecommunications: Digital infrastructure and fiber-optic expansion.
- Sanitation and Irrigation: Water treatment, desalination, and agricultural infrastructure.
The association’s influence is derived from its ability to aggregate the technical and financial expertise of these concessionaires to offer viable solutions to the state. With the arrival of Pacheco Román, AFIN is expected to take a more assertive role in public debate, advocating for regulatory stability and legal certainty—the two pillars most frequently cited by foreign investors as necessary for the success of long-term projects.
Implications for the Peruvian Economy
The appointment of Pacheco Román comes at a pivotal time. As Peru seeks to recover from periods of economic stagnation and political volatility, infrastructure investment is widely considered the most effective multiplier for GDP growth.
1. Job Creation and Formalization
The pledge to create 2 million formal jobs is not merely a political talking point; it is an economic necessity. By channeling investment into large-scale construction and service operations, the government and the private sector can absorb a significant portion of the informal workforce, thereby expanding the tax base and improving social security coverage.
2. Closing the Social Divide
Pacheco has explicitly highlighted "social infrastructure" as a priority. This signals a shift toward projects that directly impact the quality of life in rural and underserved urban areas—such as water and sanitation services—which are essential for long-term human capital development.
3. Investor Confidence and Competitiveness
By championing the fulfillment of existing contracts, the new AFIN presidency is sending a strong signal of institutional reliability. In the eyes of international investors, the sanctity of contracts is paramount. By ensuring that projects already in the pipeline reach financial close and construction, Pacheco is aiming to restore investor confidence in the Peruvian market.
Challenges Ahead: Navigating the Political Landscape
While the objectives set by the new AFIN leadership are clear, the path to implementation is fraught with challenges. The Peruvian political environment remains complex, and the coordination between regional governments, central ministries, and private concessionaires is often hindered by fragmented oversight and bureaucratic inertia.
Pacheco Román will need to leverage his experience at the Ministry of Transport and Communications to navigate these hurdles. Success will depend on his ability to:
- Foster Political Consensus: Ensuring that infrastructure projects are treated as "state policies" rather than "government projects," protecting them from the cycles of political change.
- Manage Social License: Proactively addressing the concerns of local communities, which is essential to prevent project paralysis due to social conflict.
- Enhance Transparency: Working with state agencies like ProInversión to ensure that the bidding and execution processes are beyond reproach, thereby mitigating risks of corruption that have historically plagued large-scale projects in the region.
Conclusion: A New Chapter for Infrastructure
The appointment of Juan Antonio Pacheco Román to the presidency of AFIN represents a strategic alignment between the private sector’s technical capacity and the nation’s urgent development needs. By focusing on the $50 billion project pipeline and advocating for a rigorous adherence to the National Infrastructure Plan, AFIN is positioning itself as an essential partner in Peru’s path toward modernization.
As the country looks toward the horizon of 2031, the success of this agenda will be measured by the concrete outcomes: the number of miles of highway paved, the gigawatts of energy added to the grid, and the millions of citizens who gain access to reliable water and digital services. For Peru, the era of "Infrastructure as an Engine of Progress" has a new captain, and the industry is watching closely to see how the next phase of this critical journey unfolds.
