Julio Velarde gets A+ rating from Global Finance central banker awards

Julio Velarde Secures Top Global Central Banker Rating From Global Finance

Julio Velarde, president of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru, earned an A+ rating in the 2026 World’s Best Central Banker awards issued by Global Finance, rpp.pe reported on October 29, 2026. Velarde shared the publication’s highest score with Christian Kettel Thomsen, governor of Denmark’s central bank, during the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank held this year in Thailand.

The evaluation scores central bank governors across nearly 100 countries, territories, and regional institutions based on inflation control, monetary stability, interest rate management, and institutional independence. Global Finance founder and editorial director Joseph Giarraputo stated that leaders earning an A grade demonstrate the discipline, independence, and good judgment required to guide their economies through unpredictable global conditions, noting: Los gobernadores de los bancos centrales calificados con A son líderes que han demostrado la disciplina, independencia y buen criterio necesarios para lograr la estabilidad mientras guían a sus economías a través de un entorno global siempre impredecible.

This marks the second time Velarde has claimed the top A+ rank from the publication, having first reached the tier in 2021, according to rpp.pe. Peru’s international reserves accounted for approximately 26% of gross domestic product in September 2026, marking the highest proportion in Latin America.

The Banker and Global Finance Recognize Central Bank Leaders

The Financial Times group publication The Banker named him Global Central Banker of the Year in 2015 and Central Banker of the Year for the Americas in 2020.

Global Finance has published its annual central banker report cards since 1994, evaluating leaders from nearly 100 jurisdictions alongside regional bodies including the European Central Bank, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, and the central banks of West and Central African states. Alongside Peru’s standing, the Dominican Republic Central Bank Héctor Valdez Albizu secured recognition for his management amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and inflationary pressures. For Valdez Albizu, the distinction marks the fourth occasion he has received the award, having previously been honored in 2017, 2024, and 2025.

Low Inflation and Rising Investment Boost Domestic Demand

The central bank chief highlighted the country’s achievement in maintaining one of the lowest inflation rates in the region throughout the current century.

Domestic demand expanded by 5.9% while private investment climbed 15.5%, backed by an economic framework that maintains equal treatment for domestic and foreign capital alongside a broad network of international trade agreements.