Peru president Ollanta Humala

Ollanta Humala has pledged to maintain Peru's existing free-market economic and trade policies.

Humala made the promise in his first speech since being sworn in as president of the fast-growing Latin American nation.

It comes just a couple of days after the appointment of Miguel Caillaux Zazzalli as the new government's minister of agriculture.

Caillaux, who has the backing of fresh produce organisations including the Peruvian Exporters Association and the Peruvian Mango Producers Association, surprisingly beat Walter Aguirre to the position and took office yesterday.