International Copyright U.S. &
Foreign Commercial Service and
the U.S. Department of State, 2000
All rights reserved outside the United States
Table of Contents
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2. ECONOMIC TRENDS AND OUTLOOK
Major Trends and Outlook
Principal Growth Sectors
Government Role in the Economy
Balance of Payments Situation
Infrastructure
3. POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT
Nature of the Political Relationship with the United States
Major Political Issues Affecting the Business Climate
Synopsis of Political System
Outline of the Political System
Executive
Legislative
Judiciary
4. MARKETING U.S. PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Distribution and Sales Channels
Use of Agents and Distributors - Finding a Partner
Franchising
Direct Marketing
Joint Ventures/Licensing
Steps to Establishing an Office
Selling Factors/Techniques
Advertising and Trade Promotion
Television
Radio
Newspapers
Theaters
Market Research
Pricing Products
Sales Services/Customer Support
Selling to the Government
Protecting Against IPR Infringement
Need for a Local Attorney
Performing Due Diligence/Checking Bona Fides
5. LEADING SECTORS FOR U.S. EXPORTS AND INVESTMENTS
Best Prospects Non-Agricultural Goods and Services
Rank 1 - Hydrocarbons Sector (OGS)
Rank 2 - Mining Sector (MIN)
6. TRADE REGULATIONS, CUSTOMS AND STANDARDS
Trade Barriers, Including Tariffs and Import Taxes
Customs Valuation
Import Licenses
Imports of Insecticide Products
Import Requirements and Restrictions For Tobacco and Tobacco Products
Import Regulations for Used/Refurbished Medical Equipment
Import Regulations In Bolivia Concerning Seeds Either Treated Or Non-Treated
Bolivian Registration Requirements for Pharmaceuticals
Import Requirements for Fishery Products
Duties/Taxes and Customs Procedures for Information Technology Products
Customs Procedures
Export Controls
Import/Export Documentation
Special Documentation
Air Cargo
Parcel Post
Entry and Warehousing
Temporary Entry
Labeling and Marking Requirements
Prohibited Imports
Free Trade Zones/Warehouses
Special Import Provisions
Duty Exemptions and Reductions
Membership in Free Trade Arrangements
7. INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT
Openness to Foreign Investment
Conversion and Transfer Policies
Expropriation and Compensation
Dispute Settlement
Performance Requirements/Incentives
Right to Private Ownership and Establishment
Protection of Property Rights
Intellectual Property Rights
Transparency of the Regulatory System
Efficient Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment
Political Violence
Corruption
Bilateral Investment Agreements
OPIC and Other Investment Insurance Programs
Labor
Foreign Trade Zones/Free Post
Foreign Direct Investment
8. TRADE AND PROJECT FINANCING
Description of the Banking System
Foreign Exchange Controls Affecting Trade
General Financing Availability
Available Export Financing and Insurance
Project Financing
List of Banks with Correspondent U.S. Banking Arrangements
9. BUSINESS TRAVEL
Business Customs
Travel Advisory and Visas
Holidays
Business Infrastructure
10. ECONOMIC AND TRADE STATISTICS
Appendix A - Country Data
Appendix B - Domestic Economy
Appendix C - Trade
Appendix D - Investment Statistics
Appendix E - Reports on Commercial and Economic Conditions in Bolivia
11. U.S. AND COUNTRY CONTACTS
12. MARKET RESEARCH
13. TRADE EVENT SCHEDULE
This Country Commercial Guide (CCG) presents a comprehensive look at Bolivia's commercial environment, using economic, political and market analyses. The CCGs were established by recommendation of the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC, a multi-agency task force) to consolidate various reporting documents prepared for the U.S. business community. Country Commercial Guides are prepared annually at U.S. Embassies through the combined efforts of several U.S. Government agencies.
The commitment of Bolivia's successive governments to the free-market economic system for the last 16 years -- following the trauma of hyperinflation in the early 1980s -- has created conditions that have led to a period of steady economic growth. This growth has been largely non-inflationary, thanks to the Central Bank's strict control of money supply growth. The rate of economic growth over this period has been disappointing, however, and its distribution has been uneven across the population. Bolivia remains the poorest country in South America, with a significant portion of its population participating only marginally in the formal economy.
Bolivia has a relatively low level of industrialization and remains highly dependent on imports -- especially of capital and consumer goods -- to fuel its growth. The United States is Bolivia's largest trading partner: In 2000, the United States exported goods worth US$430 million to Bolivia and imported goods worth US$349 million. U.S. investment in Bolivia has grown rapidly and by the end of 2000 exceeded US$1.5 billion, which represents 36% of total FDI, making the U.S. the single largest investor in the Bolivian economy.
We expect that Bolivia's growth rate will grow by between 1.0 and 1.5 percent, with nominal GDP equaling roughly US$8.8 billion. Bolivia's engine of growth in recent years has been the service sector, with the most rapid growth occurring in construction, petroleum, transports, communication, electricity and water. Investments in the hydrocarbons sector are being spurred by the opening in August 1999 of the gas pipeline to Brazil, which is expected to absorb much of Bolivia's natural gas production. Inflation in consumer prices increased in 1999 by 3.1% and 3.4% in 2000.
Bolivia welcomes foreign direct investment throughout its economy, with very few restrictions. The Investment Law guarantees national treatment and the free convertibility of currency; a U.S.-Bolivia Bilateral Investment Treaty that came into effect on June 7, 2001 will provide means for U.S. investors to defend these rights.
Potential investors should be aware, however, that there is a severe lack of transparency in the country's judicial system. The current Administration recognizes this deficiency and is working with the political opposition to legislate changes to the system. In the meantime it can be difficult to enforce contracts through a court system in which corruption and inefficiency are significant problems. Incidents of corruption are also not uncommon among low-level officials of the executive branch.
The United States and Bolivia have had a long-standing cooperative relationship in pursuit of the promotion of the country's social and physical development, the strengthening of its democratic institutions, the eradication of illegal coca production and the interdiction of the trade in cocaine and related products. The Banzer Administration, which took power in August 1997, continued to cooperate with the United States in these key areas of concern.
When President Banzer's poor health forced his early resignation on August 6, 2000, Vice President Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga rose to the presidency to fulfill the last year of the Banzer Administration. President Quiroga has promised that the fights against poverty and corruption will be central themes of his administration.
The best prospects for U.S. trade and investment in the coming years are in the hydrocarbons, mining, and agriculture sectors.
Country Commercial Guides are available for U.S. exporters from the National Trade Data Bank as CD-Rom or via the Internet. (Please contact STAT-USA at 1-800-state-usa for more information.) Country Commercial Guides can also be accessed via the World Wide Web at "http://www.stat-usa.gov"; "http://www.state.gov" and http://www.mac.doc.gov.
They can also be ordered in hard copy or on diskette from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) at 1-800-553-NTIS. U.S. exporters seeking general export information/assistance and country specific commercial information should contact the U.S. Department of Commerce, Trade Information Center by phone at 1-800-USA-TRADE.
2. ECONOMIC TRENDS AND OUTLOOK
Major Trends and Outlook
After twelve years of moderate economic growth, the Bolivian economy faced two very difficult years during 1999 and 2000 when it's growth rate dropped from an average of 4% annually to only 0.68 % and around 2 % respectively. As a result of lower export prices, unfortunate weather conditions and an international financial crisis in the region, economic growth declined and registered negative annual per capita income growth.
The capitalization (Bolivia's variation of privatization) of five of the government's largest parastatals in 1996-97 contributed significantly to the country's rate of economic growth. The foreign-based "strategic partners" in the capitalized companies pledged almost US$1.7 billion in new investment in the country's transportation (LAB, ENFE), energy (ENDE) and communications (ENTEL) infrastructure; in return they received 50% of each company's assets.
Capitalization provided needed investment and introduced new technology and management skills to these key companies. The program has been criticized, however, for having created few jobs outside the capitalized sector. Indeed initially some jobs were eliminated from the over-staffed state corporations. We expect employment levels to rise over time. We also expect that the introduction of greater efficiencies through continuing investment in these sectors will have a positive impact across the entire economy. In particular, the development of the country's infrastructure should create an environment far more conducive to unrelated investments, which should lead eventually to the job-creation needed to spread the benefits of the capitalization program more widely across the economy.
Under the terms of its agreements with international donors, the present administration plans to use its limited public investment resources to develop such essential programs as education, public health and road construction. These sectors should, therefore, be more attractive as well in the coming years to U.S. based providers of goods and services. The Government has committed itself to improve social indicators during the next five years.
Bolivia's successive administrations since the hyperinflationary period of the early 1980s have maintained fiscal and monetary discipline and thereby successfully avoided recurrences of the scourge of uncontrolled inflation. By 1993-94 the government was able to bring inflation in consumer prices down to single digits. Improved monetary controls helped bring the inflation rate back down to 8% in 1996, 6.7% in 1997, and down to 4.4% in 1998. Inflation increased slightly from 3.1 % in 1999 to 3.4 % in 2000, due to negative inflation rates during the last two months of the year
Improved controls on spending and some progress in improving tax collection enabled the Government to reduce its fiscal deficit to 1.8% of GDP in 1995, down from 3.0% in 1994 and 6.0% in 1993. After rising slightly in 1996, the deficit rose to 3.3% in 1997, due largely to the cost of the pension reforms launched in 1996. During 1998 the Government renewed its commitments to the International Monetary fund (IMF) under an Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF), and the debt relief program under the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) program came into force. The public deficit rose slightly from 3.8 % of GDP in 1999 to 4.0 % during 2000, including the significant outlays resulting from the pension reform. The fiscal deficit is still largely composed of the costs of the pension reform and showed a positive current surplus without it.
Despite its generally encouraging prospects, Bolivia's endemic poverty and public indebtedness remain daunting challenges. A large percentage of the population lives outside of the cash economy, while many more face the grinding reality of securing a livelihood through small-scale agriculture. The Banzer Administration has identified the need to address Bolivia's poverty as one of its primary objectives, and it will use donor assistance and concessional financing from the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) to help finance these necessary developmental activities.
As of the end of 2000, Bolivian mid
and long-term foreign debt was 4.4 billion. Disbursements were approximately
one-third of total debt amortization payments, but exchange rate variations
determined a favorable debt reduction for almost US$ 208 million. Bolivia's debt
position was greatly alleviated by the Enhanced Highly Indebted Poor Country
(HIPC II) debt relief scheme, which was approved in June 2001. Debt relief
required improvements in many fundamental social indicators.
Principal Growth Sectors
The three major sectors of the Bolivian economy are energy, mining, and agriculture. The hydrocarbons sector in particular enjoys solid future prospects due to the completion of a first gas pipeline to Sao Paulo, and the construction of a second pipeline to Cuiaba, Brazil. Both pipelines will allow larger gas exports during the next five years.
Companies from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Argentina and
Spain are actively exploring for hydrocarbons, investing a total of US$295 million in 1997, US$407 million in 1998, US$377 million in 1999, and approximately US$ 330 million in 2000, in exploration and development activities. Petroleum companies already operating in Bolivia have announced investments totaling US$2.5 billion through 2002. As a result of exploration activities conducted by Totalfina and Petrobras alone, Bolivia has quintupled its gas reserves to 46.8 TCF as of December 2000 and will certify additional reserves during 2001.
Although mining remains an important economic sector, mining investment declined from US$38 million in 1998 to around US$28 million in 2000. However, as new projects involving silver and zinc are developed, the prospects for the mining sector should improve. As a result of exploration by several international mining firms, significant new silver and zinc deposits have been discovered in San Cristobal, Potosi. While companies continue to discover and upgrade ore reserves, the rebound of the mining sector will depend largely on higher international commodity prices.
The agricultural sector has experienced impressive growth as
land in the Department of Santa Cruz is being shifted increasingly to the
production of oilseeds and cotton. Bolivia exports soy principally to Brazil,
Argentina, Colombia, and other Andean countries, where it is processed for
export to world markets. However, the past year was a difficult year for farmers
as poor weather conditions and a drop in soy prices slowed agricultural growth.
The agricultural sector -- principally in the Santa Cruz region -- has enjoyed
annual growth rates of over 9% over 1994-1998 period, but experienced a
significant decrease during 1999-2000. Still, growth in output might improve in
the future, as new investors enter the sector and both bring more land into
cultivation and apply improved technology.
Government Role in the Economy
Total Government expenditure accounted for 37.3% of GDP in 2000, of which about 20% was spent on investment. The public deficit was around 4.0% of GDP in 2000. The capitalization program significantly reduced the Bolivian Government's presence as an economic player. The Bolivian Government increasingly sees its role as a provider of general guidelines and the overseer of economic activities. In the future the Government will be increasingly focused on addressing the severe deficiencies Bolivia faces in such public services as education, health and the maintenance of road infrastructure.
In 1994 the Bolivian Government
launched the "Popular Participation" program, which requires that a fixed
percentage of federal revenues be passed with relatively few conditions to the
country's 314 municipalities. Now municipalities have control over spending
decisions that immediately affect their citizens' lives. As a result of the HIPC
programs and a National Dialogue small municipalities will receive financial
resources during the next few years. One key challenge for now is developing the
managerial skills of the Municipalities so that they are better able to handle
these monies effectively and to address issues that have a lasting impact on
their communities. The Central Government is expending great effort to supervise
the administration of funds disbursed under the reform program.
Balance of Payments Situation
During 2000 the trade deficit was narrowed by approximately US$104 million (17 %) due mainly to greater exports while imports remained almost unchanged. The trade deficit ended 2000 at US$600 million, compared to US$ 704 million for the prior year, while the capital account continued to show that foreign direct investment flows offset the commercial balance deficit as they have for the past five years. Nevertheless, FDI decreased by around 25 %. While the capital account contributed positively, international reserves declined by US$ 23 million during 2000.
FDI registered US$750 million during 2000, approximately 25 % lower than 1999. While this is partially the result of completion of the capitalization contracts, the government asserts that this trend was reversed by the end of the year. FDI was concentrated in the hydrocarbons and service sectors of the economy, accounting for 44 and 42 % of total FDI during 2000, respectively.
The total medium- and long-term debt of the Bolivian government as of December 2000 stood at US$ 4.4 billion, of which US$ 1.33 billion was owed to governments (bilateral debt), US$ 3 billion to multilateral institutions and US$ 18 million to private banks. The Bolivian Treasury is responsible for about 70 % of this total, with another 13 % owed by the Central Bank. The National Rural Development Fund is responsible another 3 %, with private companies and municipalities responsible for a remaining 14 %. As a result of the capitalization process, about US$150 million was transferred from public debt to private companies as of December 2000.
Bolivia's inclusion in the
Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC II) Initiative will provide
significant debt relief by both bilateral and multilateral creditors during
2001. The national government, together with the IDB and the World Bank,
developed a program of social policies and indicators of the outcomes of policy
actions for the period 1998-2000. The Banzer/Quiroga administration has
established the goal of poverty reduction as one of its highest priorities and
has strengthened its social expenditure policies. Approximately US$ 79.4 million
was allocated to public investment during 2000, targeting social sectors
including rural health and education. The government started a new version of
the national dialogue during the first half of 2000 in order to establish
priorities for the allocation of HIPC II funds. It is expected that
approximately US$ 100 million will be allocated during the year 2001.
Infrastructure
Bolivia's poor infrastructure -- particularly its lack of adequate transportation links -- figures prominently among the obstacles the country faces to increase its pace of economic growth.
There are various road projects under development or construction, principally in the Departments of Beni, Santa Cruz, Potosí, La Paz and Tarija, with estimated total investment of US$1 billion. The Bolivian Government passed a law authorizing the granting of concessions for public works, with an eye principally to creating unconventional means to finance new road projects. Concessions are granted to local or foreign contractors for up to 40 years. Although the Government has awarded several contracts to international and domestic private companies, most concessions were not fulfilled or applied to manage existing roadways. The National Road Service was not able to develop several projects during 1999-2000 despite the availability of appropriate resources. At the same time international financial institutions have postponed the disbursement of US$ 87 million until an aggressive institutional reform is implemented.
Bolivia's installed electrical power generating capacity is rated at 995 megawatts (MW) and a demand about 627 MW as of December 2000. ENDE -- the former parastatal generating company -- had an installed generating capacity of 497 MW, all of which was purchased in 1995 through the capitalization program by three U.S. consortia. Energy Initiatives and GPU International purchased the Guaracachi thermo-plant (248 MW) located in Santa Cruz for US$447 million. Dominion Energy purchased the Corani (54 MW) and Santa Isabel (72 MW) hydroelectric plants, both located in Cochabamba, for US$59 million. Duke Energy bought Dominion Energy shares in Corani S.A. in April 2000. Constellation Energy purchased the Valle Hermoso thermo-plant (87 MW) located in Cochabamba for US$34 million. A U.S.-based group already owned the Bolivian Power Company (COBEE) which supplies the La Paz area and has 160 MW installed generating capacity; COBEE currently has plans underway to add another 66 MW. Since its initial purchase, U.S. energy firm GPU International expanded its generating capacity by 144 MW with the opening of the new Carrasco Plant in Santa Cruz in June 1999.
The company offering long-distance and international telephony -- ENTEL -- was purchased by the Italian firm Stet International Telecom (now owned by Telecom Italia) for US$610 million in 1995. ENTEL enjoys a monopoly on long-distance/international service through November 2001, and rates have remained high by international standards. Local telephony within cities is controlled by independent cooperatives, which also enjoy a monopoly on wired service through 2001. While ENTEL has invested in fairly sophisticated switching systems, the cooperatives generally have not been able to modernize their systems, due to lack of financing. The three largest cooperatives (COTAS, COMTECO, and COTEL, in Santa Cruz, Cochabamba and La Paz, respectively) control almost 85% of the country's local telephony.
Cellular phones have proven to be very popular in Bolivia, as aggressive competition has resulted in consumers enjoying some of the lowest prices offered in the hemisphere. The two providers are ENTEL and TELECEL, a subsidiary of Millicom International Cellular.
To expand Bolivia's mobile communications network, the Superintendent of Telecommunications called in 1998 for international bids for a 20-year concessionary contract for the provision of Personal Communications Services (PCS). Seattle-Based Western Wireless and its Bolivian partner, the Cochabamba local telephone service provider COMTECO, won the concession with a bid of US $15.4 million. The frequency awarded is the second of three frequencies set aside by the Government for PCS technology, with a service area which includes all of Bolivia. After several years of searching for "strategic partners," COTEL signed an agreement with the American company AES as part of that company's deployment of a fiber optic network in Bolivia in anticipation of the market opening in November 2001. Additionally, the Santa Cruz cooperative COTAS signed a strategic agreement with ITXC of Princeton, New Jersey to improve the cooperative's access to new technologies and financing.
Two airlines -- American Airlines and Lloyd Aereo Boliviano (LAB) -- offer daily non-stop service to Miami. The Brazilian Airline VASP purchased half of LAB in 1995 during the capitalization process. A second domestic carrier is Aerosur and, during the first half of 2001, a third (Amazonas) announced to start operations. USP Air Cargo also services Bolivia. A variety of foreign airlines offer flights to neighboring countries, most on a daily basis.
The national railroad system has two distinct parts separated by the eastern Andes. The western system, called the Andina, connects the cities of La Paz, Cochabamba, Oruro and Uyuni with the Chilean ports of Arica and Antofagasta. Its primary customers are in the mining sector. The eastern line, called the Oriental, connects the city of Santa Cruz with Brazil and northern Argentina and with the barge service on Paraguay-Parana River system reaching Uruguay and Argentine ports. Oriental's primary customers are in the soy, petrochemical and construction materials sectors. Both systems were placed under private control in 1996. The Andina system is controlled by the Luksic Group, one of Chiles' largest economic groups. The Oriental is controlled by Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., a NASDAQ-listed North American railroad company. Both systems have received significant capital investment over the last five years to meet the needs of their customers. The Oriental has been consistently profitable since it came under private control.
Nature of the Political Relationship with the
United States
The United States remains Bolivia's largest bilateral provider of foreign aid, its principal trading partner and the largest source of foreign investment. The United States today enjoys considerable influence at nearly all levels of Bolivian politics, society and culture. There is an active anti-neoliberalism movement in Bolivia which rejects U.S. influence. Although internally divided and a minority among politically active Bolivians, this group has in the recent past interfered with U.S. and other foreign investments.
U.S.-Bolivian relations are very good. Both countries share
a strong commitment to fostering and strengthening democracy, to combating
terrorism, to fomenting sustainable economic growth and to fighting the common
threat posed by drug trafficking. Regular high-level visits help maintain strong
ties between the leaders of both governments.
Major Political Issues Affecting the Business
Climate
Counter-narcotics has been an overarching focus of U.S.-Bolivia cooperation over the past five years. The Banzer Administration (1997-2002) has largely fulfilled its pledge to remove Bolivia from the "coca/cocaine circuit," forcibly eradicating thousands of hectares of coca in the Chapare region and developing plans to deal with the small amounts of remaining illegal coca in the Yungas region near La Paz. The U.S. Government has provided extensive technical support to drug crop eradication and drug traffic interdiction efforts, as well as substantial assistance to promoting alternative economic activities in former coca-producing regions. U.S. development assistance to Bolivia continues to be among the highest in per capita dollar terms in the world.
Bolivia will conduct national elections in June 2002. With the approach of these elections, most political dissent in Bolivia should be channeled in more conventional democratic ways (see section on Political Violence). All of the major political parties, both in government and opposition, are supportive of Bolivia's free trade and investment model, though some anti-neoliberal parties may gain enough support in 2002 to force minor modifications in the Bolivian model.
In 2001, President Banzer assumed the leadership of the Andean Community, a symbol of Bolivia's active participation in various regional and multilateral organizations including MERCOSUR (as an associate member) and the World Trade Organization (since 1995). Bolivia is consistently supportive of U.S. goals on international trade and political issues.
Bolivia qualified for a second major reduction of its outstanding multilateral debt in 2001 through the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC II) Initiative. The debt treatment was contingent on the development of an anti-poverty program in consultation with civil society. Savings on debt service produced by HIPC II are to be directed to education, health and other social investments by the GOB, operating largely through municipalities.
Through
USAID, the Embassy has provided assistance to Bolivia in establishing a new Code
of Criminal Procedures that is transforming the justice system to improve
transparency, accountability and efficiency. Improved administration of justice
is crucial to diminishing corruption and regulatory interference in the Bolivian
business climate. Bolivia and the United States signed a Bilateral Investment
Treaty in 2001 that will provide additional protections to U.S. investors in
Bolivia.
Synopsis of Political System
Bolivia held free and fair Presidential elections on June 1, 1997. President Hugo Banzer and his vice presidential candidate Jorge Quiroga (of the center/right ADN party) polled around 23% of the popular vote in a field of ten candidates, took office on August 6, 1997. (The candidate of the MNR, the former governing party, finished second.) This was Bolivia's fifth successive democratic transfer of power, a clear indication of the maturity of the country's democratic institutions. Once known for political instability and a dizzying string of military coups, Bolivia is now among South America's leaders in building democratic political institutions and a sustained system of market-oriented economic policies.
When President Banzer's poor health forced his early resignation on August 6, 2000, Vice President Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga rose to the presidency to fulfill the last year of the Banzer Administration. President Quiroga has promised that the fights against poverty and corruption will be central themes of his administration.
Bolivia's plurinominal electoral system (which mixes proportional representation in Congress with direct elections) encourages multiple parties and makes it difficult for any one party to gain a legislative majority. Consequently, coalition governments are the rule. Banzer currently governs with the leftist MIR and the centrist UCS parties. Despite the presence of the governing coalition of parties with a range of economic beliefs and views, Banzer/Quiroga administration has shown no sign of a lessened commitment to preserving Bolivia's open economy. The national determination to fight the coca/cocaine culture has enjoyed broad support.
Outline of the Political System
Executive
The Cabinet includes the President, Vice President and 16 Ministers. The President and Vice President are elected to a five-year term (as of the 1997 election); neither can serve consecutive terms in either capacity. If no candidate wins an absolute majority of the popular vote, Congress elects the President from among the two candidates who won the most votes.
The Bolivian Cabinet as of August 2001:
| President | Jorge Quiroga Ramirez (ADM) |
| Vice President | Vacant |
| Foreign Minister | Gustavo Fernandez Saavedra (IND) |
| Minister of Government | Leopoldo Fernandez Ferreira (ADN) |
| Minister of Defense | Oscar Guilarte Lujan (ADN) |
| Minister of the Presidency | José Luis Lupo Flores (IND) |
| Minister of Finance | Jasques Trigo Loubiere (IND) |
| Minister of Economic Development | Carlos Kempff Bruno (IND) |
| Minister of Justice and Human Rights | Mario Serrate Ruiz (ADN) |
| Minister of Education, Culture and Sports | Amalia Anaya Jaldin (IND) |
| Minister of Health and Social Prevision | Enrique Paz Argandoña (MIR) |
| Minister of Labor | Jorge Pacheco Franco (UCS) |
| Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development | Walter Nuñez Rodriguez (MIR) |
| Minister of Housing and Basic Services | Javier Nogales Iturri (IND) |
| Minister of Sustainable Development and Planning | Ramiro Cavero Uriona (IND) |
| Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment | Claudio Mansilla Peña (IND) |
| Minister of Governmental Information | Mauro Bertero Gutierrez (ADN) |
| Minister of Peasant Affairs and Idigenous and Original Peoples | Wigberto Rivero Pinto (MIR) |
Legislative
A two-chamber Congress includes a 27-member senate (chosen by
party slate; three per department) and a 130-member Chamber of Deputies (half-elected
directly, and half from party slates; apportioned roughly by population). Senators
and deputies serve five-year terms and may be re-elected consecutively.
The Major Parties Currently Represented in Congress are:
Governing
Coalition
ADN: National Democratic Action (center-right)
UCS: Civic Solidarity Movement (populist)
MIR: Movement of the Revolutionary Left (center-left)
The Opposition
MNR: Nationalist Revolutionary Movement (centrist)
MBL: Free Bolivia Movement (leftist)
IU: United Left (far-left)
CONDEPA: Conscience of the Fatherland (populist), formerly member of the coalition
NFR: New Republican Force (center)
Judiciary
The judicial system has four levels of trial: investigative, trial, superior court, and Supreme Court or Constitutional Court appellate review. The 12 Supreme Court Justices are nominated by the Judicial Council and elected by the Congress (with two-thirds approval); they serve one ten-year term. The Attorney General is independent from the executive branch; he is also appointed by the President, confirmed by the Congress and serves one ten-year term.
Suffrage is universal and compulsory at age 18. An estimated 2.3 million voters were registered for the 1997 elections. The next national elections will be held in June 2002.
4. MARKETING U.S. PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Distribution and Sales Channels
There are four basic means by which one can market imports coming into Bolivia: (1) by commissioned or independent sales agents or representatives; (2) through import houses; (3) via subsidiaries of foreign firms; and (4) by direct importation by government agencies.
Firms that have enjoyed the greatest success in Bolivia have selected the type of distribution system most suitable to their product and appointed an experienced, aggressive and financially solvent representative to handle their local affairs.
Most heavy equipment, machinery and general merchandise must
be delivered through seaports in Peru, Chile, Brazil or Argentina. On occasion
bad weather, road blockages, port congestion and other factors can block these
channels. It is important to cooperate closely with your Bolivian clients to
arrange the proper mode of transportation and to prepare and submit shipping
documents in a timely manner. Given the possible complications inherent in land
delivery, air cargo transport may prove to be preferable even for heavy
items.
Use of Agents and Distributors -
Finding a Partner
Most of the numerous agents, distributors and representatives active in Bolivia are competent in dealing with government agencies, as well as with private industry.
Commission agents take orders on a direct-shipment basis. Some specialize in certain products or in supplying customers engaged in specific activities. These agents and representatives usually do not maintain inventories.
Agents are required to have a minimum paid-in capital of US$2,000 to initiate a business transaction in Bolivia. Agents must also meet certain other requirements and register with the National Chamber of Commerce, the Internal Revenue Service, the Vice Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the National Directory of Commerce and the Municipality in which they are based. To register, agents and representatives require a letter or agreement from a firm appointing them as its agent or representative. This document should clearly indicate the contract's period of validity, the sales area covered by the agent (be it national or regional), the financial terms and whether the exporting firm has the right to appoint other agents in other areas of the country. Legal counsel is recommended in drawing up the contract, which enables the agent to act on behalf of the foreign firm in government tenders. The usual commission in Bolivia varies from 5 to 10% or more, depending on the product, the amount of the transactions and other factors.
Import houses in Bolivia are normally relatively large, although there do exist some small, well-established importers. These firms import for their own use and also represent foreign firms on a commission basis. Many operate general merchandise outlets. Larger importers have subsidiaries and branches throughout the country, as well as sub-distributors and a sales force to canvass retailers, wholesalers and consumers. This method offers the U.S. exporter a degree of financial security, as the importer normally stocks products and assumes the risk of importing general merchandise. More importantly, U.S. exporters -- via their agents -- are also allowed to sell to government agencies in response to tenders.
Hundreds of thousands of Bolivians are engaged in merchandising, usually in small facilities or as street vendors. Although many goods are available through legitimate wholesalers, a significant percentage also enters the country as contraband. In addition, many wholesalers import directly and then distribute goods through their own retail outlets in major cities and through other firms. Many retail establishments are small operations, often family-owned; others are direct outlets run by local producers.
The main distribution center is La
Paz, Bolivia's largest city and the seat of Government. Traditionally most
import houses, distributors and agencies use La Paz as their major central
outlet, with branches in Cochabamba and Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz -- Bolivia's
fastest growing city and the country's economic center -- might prove in the
future to be an attractive base from which to market in Bolivia.
Franchising
Although Bolivia has no specific legislation
regarding franchising, there are clear rules governing its operation. A
foreign-based company wanting to grant a specific franchise in Bolivia must
first register the brand name with the office of National Intellectual Property
Service, which is controlled by the Vice Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Once
the brand name is registered, the foreign company may grant the local company a
franchise through a contract specifying the terms of mutual agreement.
Direct Marketing
Establishing a local branch or subsidiary provides
an edge when selling to or servicing machinery of government agencies or private
businesses.
Joint Ventures/Licensing
Joint venture operations are ruled by the
Investment Law, and its implementing regulations are laid out in Supreme Decree
22526 (June 13, 1990). A joint venture in Bolivia is defined as a specific
business venture carried out by two or more parties with separate legal
licenses. Once the objectives are clearly defined, a contract is signed between
the parties, and each party becomes liable for debts according to the percentage
each owns. The separate business interests of any party are not affected by the
joint venture's activities, unless specifically stated. Corporations and/or
individuals (foreign or domestic) may enter into joint venture agreements. While
foreign companies are not required to possess a local legal license in advance,
they must be able to demonstrate their legal status in their country of
origin.
Steps to Establishing an
Office
Foreign investments are welcome in Bolivia. Although there are specific laws designed to minimize the bureaucratic hurdles to establishing an office in Bolivia, we strongly suggest that companies hire the services of a local attorney to avoid unnecessary delays and pitfalls.
Under Bolivia's Commercial Code, business can be conducted under the following types of business entities:
Corporation:
(Sociedad Anonima, or S.A.): Owners of capital are described as
shareholders.
Private Companies: (Sociedad
de Responsabilidad Limitada, S.R.L.): Owners of capital are described as quota
holders and have limited liability.
General
Partnership: (Sociedad Colectiva, S.C.): Participants are described as
partners, who have joint and individual liability.
Limited Partnership: (Sociedad en Comandita Simple,
S.C.S.): Participants are described as partners. There are two types of
partners: General Partners (Socios Colectivos), who have unlimited liability,
and Limited Partners (Socios en Comandita) who have limited liability.
Limited Partnership Company (Sociedad en Comandita
por Acciones, S.C.A.): Owners of capital are described as shareholders and
partners.
Branch of a Foreign Company
Sole Proprietorship
The corporation, private company and branch are the most common vehicles for foreign investment.
Taxation on foreign companies is similar to that applied to
local companies. Since 1995 all companies face a tax equal to 25% of profits.
U.S. companies can use the tax paid in Bolivia as a tax credit in the United
States under the worldwide income taxation system. Companies should consult a
knowledgeable accounting firm in Bolivia for more detailed information.
Selling Factors/Techniques
It is essential that U.S. firms be formally represented in Bolivia through import houses,
commission or independent sales agents, local distributors
or local subsidiaries. Periodic visits by representatives of U.S. suppliers are
likewise essential to provide training and assistance to the distributor or
agent and to establish personal contact with customers.
Advertising and Trade Promotion
The Bolivian advertising industry has become increasingly professional and competitive.
The tremendous increase in private television ownership in recent years has prompted the industry to devote special attention to TV commercial spots.
La Paz remains the principal advertising center. Nineteen advertising agencies operate in La Paz, of which GRAMMA Ltda., McCann-Ericsson, Leo Burnett-Acresis, SMART Ltda. and J. Walter Thompson are the leaders. All 19 are members of the Chamber of Advertising Agencies. The Chamber can be contacted at:
Camara Paceña de Empresas de Publicidad, CAPEP
Calle Lisímaco Gutierrez 513
La Paz, Bolivia
Contact: Javier Garcia G. Presidente
Tel: (591-2) 2417432; Fax: (591-2) 2412704
Advertising agencies usually charge a 15% commission, although this percentage is negotiable.
Television is the principal form of advertising, followed by newspapers and radio. According to the latest statistics supplied by the Association of Advertising Agencies, television advertisements now account for 80% of all advertising expenditures, while 8% goes for newspaper and magazine ads and 7% for radio spots. Other media -- such as movie theaters, neon signs, billboards and direct mailing -- account for the remaining 5%.
Television
All TV stations are in private hands except for one government-owned national broadcasting station and eight stations belonging to the major state universities.
While several networks of stations broadcast common programming throughout the country, only the government station is considered to be truly "national" since it alone transmits to all areas of Bolivia. The other "networks" beam their signals to the major cities via microwave re-transmission, although most have plans for full satellite transmission. The regional TV stations owned by the universities and the private sector rent an interconnection system from ENTEL to broadcast nationally. There are also ten private cable TV systems in the cities of La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz.
The industry is regulated by the Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (Superintendent
of Telecommunications). The Superintendent controls the hours of broadcasting but sets no price controls on commercial time.
La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba as a group have 130 of the country's 198 TV broadcasting stations, 123 of which are VHF and 75 UHF. all TV stations have color transmission using the U.S. system (NTSC) using 525 lines and 50 cycles. In 2000 there were approximately 100,000 black-and-white and 900,000 color TV sets in use throughout the country.
Radio
All but two of Bolivia's radio stations are in private hands (one public station belongs to the military; the other to the central government). Radio is very popular here, mainly because radios are cheap and can bring entertainment and news to even the most humble sectors of the society, whose homes often lack electricity. It is also effective in reaching the country's illiterate, about half of Bolivia's total population of 8 million.
There has recently been a significant increase in FM stations broadcasting throughout the country. La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba account for 242 of the country's 366 legal stations. Of these 366 stations 248 are FM, 88 are AM, and 30 are short wave. Many stations lack proper licenses and may be cut off in the near term as the Government gains the ability to enforce its band-spectrum management more aggressively.
The approximately 3.6 million radios in Bolivia reach an audience of some 4.5 million people. Radio stations are effective in reaching rural populations, particularly given the proliferation of programs in the two dominant native languages, Aymara and Quechua.
Newspapers
Newspapers are the second most important advertising vehicle. The five newspapers in La Paz have a combined daily circulation of between 30,000 and 80,000 copies. The major La Paz newspapers are: La Razon, El Diario, Ultima Hora and La Prensa, all of which circulate nationally. The major newspapers from Santa Cruz (El Deber and El Mundo) and from Cochabamba (Los Tiempos,Opinion) are also sold nationally.
Theaters
There are about 12 motion picture theaters in La Paz, with an estimated total seating capacity of 10,000.
Market
Research
Bolivia's two
major market research firms are Price Waterhouse/Lybrand and KPMG; another ten
Bolivian market research firms represent other foreign consulting companies.
Most of these firms also provide engineering and industry feasibility studies.
An updated
list of consulting firms and their services is available in the commercial library of the U.S. Embassy in La Paz.
All market research and consulting companies are required to register with the National Chamber of Consulting Companies. All correspondence to the association may be addressed as follows:
Camara Nacional de Empresas Consultoras (CANEC)
Casilla 8560
Edif. Maria Cecilia Mezanine Of. 1
La Paz, Bolivia
Contact: Fernando De La Barra, President
Tel: (591-2) 2443819; Fax: (591-2) 2444266
Pricing Products
The Government of Bolivia does not impose price controls on most products. There remain two significant exceptions to this general reliance on market forces: petroleum products (whose price is set by the Superintendent of Hydrocarbons) and the most commonly sold bread rolls, whose prices are set by the respective municipal governments.
Sales Service/Customer Support
The competitive advantage of U.S. products against similar European and Japanese products is in price, quality, reputation and customer support. Service and maintenance provided by local agents of U.S. companies are probably the most important competitive factors that win repeat business. U.S. suppliers have traditionally provided after-sales service by training their local agents.
Selling to the Government
Even though by 1999 the control of the most significant entities once owned by the Bolivian Government have been transferred to private (mostly foreign) hands, government expenditures still account for a significant portion of Bolivia's GDP. The central government, the regional governments (the prefectures and municipal governments) and other government agencies remain important buyers of machinery, equipment and materials, as well as of other products and services. They are legally required to call for bids when proposed purchases are above 100,000 Bolivianos. ("Bolivianos" are usually noted as "Bs," and at mid-2001 the exchange rate was 6.58 Bs per US$1.) Although any local or foreign firm can present proposals for government bids, only those firms legally established under Bolivian law may sign contracts for government purchases.
The Bolivian Government decreed in 1995 -- per D.S. 23981 and Supreme Resolution 216145 -- that all public entities interested in purchasing goods or contracting services have a variety of options from which to choose, based on the amount of the transaction:
Small Purchases
: Each institution may purchase directly from its own budget without calling for bids, if the purchase does not exceed 20,000 Bs about US$3,039);
Direct Invitation
: When the purchase is above 20,000 Bs but does not exceed 600,000 Bs (about US$91,185);
Exceptional Contracts:
Purchases of national security items for the armed forces or any other products
or services of national interest, with no limit in value;
Public Bid
: Purchases above 600,000 Bs (about US$91,185).
Bid specifications containing technical and commercial requirements are made available through the relevant government entity and are published in the local media over three consecutive days at least 30 days before the bid deadline. The qualifying procedure and the awarding decision are entirely in the hands of the chief executive officer of the public entity involved. The CEO may delegate this decision to a four-member qualifying commission, composed of high-ranking executives and technical staff from the entity. Domestic goods and services receive a 10% preference in any bidding to encourage local industrial development.
When a project is financed by a development institution such as the IBRD or IADB, the bids follow that institution's rules.
The proposals must be presented in Bolivian territory. Bolivian law specifies that U.S.-based or other foreign firms interested in providing goods and services to the Bolivian Government must have a local address in Bolivia and a legal representative or a local agent to sign the contract, if awarded.
Bid specifications will include
specific instructions on how to present the offer. Tender terms vary according
to the requirements of the government agency issuing the tender. Both the price
and the quality of the product/service will be considered when awarding the
contract.
Protecting Against IPR
Infringement
A foreign company wishing to
protect its product, trademark or name in Bolivia must first register with the
National Industrial Property Service (established in early 1999), whose address
is provided in Appendix E. Although the protection of all types of Intellectual
Property in Bolivia is improving, companies should be prepared to protect their
IPR rights aggressively.
Need for a Local
Attorney
You will need a local attorney to
establish a company in Bolivia or to register a brand name with the National
Industrial Property Service. A complete list of patent and commercial attorneys,
as well as of general practice attorneys, is available in the Commercial Library
of the U.S. Embassy in La Paz.
Performing Due
Diligence/Checking Bona Fides
"Foreign Service Posts: A Guide for Business Representatives" is available for sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402, Tel: 202/512-1800; Fax: 202/512-2250. Business travelers to Bolivia seeking appointments with officials of the U.S. Embassy-La Paz should contact the Economic/
Political Section in advance. The Economic/Commercial Section can be reached at (591-2) 2430251 or by Fax at (591-2) 2433710.
5. LEADING SECTORS FOR U.S. EXPORTS AND INVESTMENTS
Best Prospects Non-Agricultural
Goods and Services
Rank 1 -Hydrocarbons Sector
(OGS)
Narrative:
The Bolivian Government enacted a new Hydrocarbons Law in 1996, which set the stage for the capitalization (a form of privatization) of Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB) and facilitated the offering of concessions to develop new gas fields to feed the first pipeline to supply major market in southern Brazil. A second pipeline, which will be completed in 2001, will bring Bolivian gas to an Enron operated thermoelectric plant in Cuiaba-Brazil. Operators have discovered large new gas and oil reserves during 1999-2000 that have quintupled the existing gas reserves.
YPFB acts as the agent of the Bolivian Government in granting concessions. However the Banzer/Quiroga administration announced in 2001 that YPBF might conduct some operation in the future. In 1997 20 concessions were granted, and 40 joint ventures contracts were signed -- worth about US$450 million in all -- for exploration, exploitation and development rights in new tracts. During 1998-2000, 13 additional exploration and exploitation contracts were signed. Contracts are held by firms based in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Argentina, and Brazil. Bolivia certified its proven gas reserves to around 46.8 TCF with major new discoveries in the departments of Santa Cruz and Tarija. Also proven reserves of oil increased to approximately 441 million barrels.
The capitalized
upstream operators are currently the largest users of oil and gas equipment.
Exploration and exploitation by private companies are increasing, and thus their
need for drilling machinery equipment, pipelines and services will expand
rapidly as new oil or natural gas fields are developed. The Bolivian-Brazilian
gas pipeline project has generated a tremendous demand for pipeline goods; other
pipelines are expected to be developed in the coming years, some feeding the
major pipeline, others feeding new markets.
| 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | |
| Total Market Size | 590 | 620 | 790 | 970 |
| Total Local Production | 710 | 780 | 980 | 1100 |
| Total Exports | 120 | 130 | 220 | 230 |
| Total Imports | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| Imports from the U.S. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Figures are unofficial estimates, in US$ millions.
Rank 2 - Mining Sector (MIN)
Narrative:
Mining remains one of Bolivia's most important sectors for development. It still generates approximately one-third of Bolivia's foreign exchange (approximately US$ 425 million), and recent announcements of a new silver discovery suggest it could keep pace with gas exports. The U.S. Geological Survey USGS has catalogued Bolivia's known deposits and estimated its potential. An during 1998-2000, the Government has completed the privatization, in one form or another, the Vinto-ENAF smelters and two large tin producing mines owned by Comibol, the state mining company.
Historically, the Government was once the main purchaser of mining equipment. Today the private sector makes virtually all imports in this sector. There are several U.S. mining operators in Bolivia closely related to gold, silver and tantalum mines.
The best immediate sales prospects for mining equipment are
in supplying the needs of medium-sized open pit mines and heap leaching
operations and small-/medium-sized alluvial gold mining cooperatives. For
medium-sized open pit operations, the best prospects include drills used in open
pit production, crushers and pulverizers, conveyors, compressors, front-loaders,
bulldozers, 15- to 30-ton heavy-duty trucks, gravimetric or flotation
concentrators and pumps. In the small-scale sector, the best prospects include
small jack-leg drills, front-loaders, crushers, concentration tables, flotation
concentrators, hand tools and explosives. New developments -- particularly in
southern Potosí -- are extremely promising and could lead to significant new
imports of mining equipment.
| 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | |
| Total Market Size | 20 | 33 | 30 | 28 |
| Total Local Production | 530 | 523 | 520 | 536 |
| Total Exports | 510 | 445 | 450 | 455 |
| Total Imports | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| Imports from the U.S. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Figures are unofficial estimates, in US$ millions.
6. TRADE REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
Trade Barriers, Including Tariffs
and Import Taxes
The following list describes the charges imposed on imports in Bolivia, including the customs tariff, domestic taxes and customs fees. Bolivian import charges -- including domestic taxes (most of which are creditable) and fees -- range from 30-45%, bringing the effective cost of imports considerably higher than the stated 0, 2, 5 or 10% tariff.
The various components of the landed cost of an import to Bolivia include:
|
1 |
to |
10,000 |
-- |
2.00% |
|
10,001 |
to |
20,000 |
-- |
1.50% |
|
20,001 |
to |
30,000 |
-- |
1.25% |
|
50,001 |
to |
100,000 |
-- |
0.75% |
|
100,001 |
to |
above |
-- |
0.50% |
Customs Valuation
Because of the complexities of working the Bolivian customs system, we urge U.S. exporters to verify the real amount of total duties payable to enter Bolivia. The Economic/Commercial Section of the U.S. Embassy in La Paz can provide a list of reliable customs brokers who can handle the related paperwork.
The following is a practical example of how Bolivia import charges are imposed on an automobile (gasoline) with a FOB price of US$9,000 and a CIF border value of US$10,000:
Structure of Import Charges
| CIF border value |
US$ 10,000.00 |
| Inspection Company Fee = 1.92% of US$9,000 |
US$ 172.80 |
| Custom Tariff = 10% of US$10,000 |
US$ 1,000.00 |
| Customs Warehouse = 0.5% of US$10,000 |
US$ 50.00 |
| Specific Consumption Tax (ICE), Gasoline 21 percent of 11,511.10 |
US$ 2,417.33 |
| Value-added tax (VAT - 13.33%) plus fees = 14.94% of US$11,510.10 ($10000+$172.80+ $1000+ $50+$50+$200+$35.30+$3) |
US$ 1,719.75 |
| Customs forms |
US$ 50.00 |
| Customs Broker fee = 2% of US$10,000 |
US$ 200.00 |
| Customs Broker charge = 17.65% of US$ 200 |
US$ 35.30 |
| Specific Chambers = .03% of us$10,000 |
US$ 30.00 |
| Total Tariff, taxes and fees to withdraw car from customs |
US$ 5,648.18 |
The importer must pay all fees charged by the "Oficina de Semilla", and the importation must be done within 90 days after the requisition is approved.
Bolivian Registration Requirements for Pharmaceuticals
The Bolivian pharmaceutical market is open to imports and domestic production.
However, prior to fabrication, importation, exportation, or sale and marketing
locally, all pharmaceutical products, both generic and brand name, including
over-the-counter drugs, must have a sanitary registration, as established by
Pharmaceutical Law 1737 and its regulations. Also pharmaceutical products must
be approved by the National Pharmacology Directorate of the National Secretariat
of Health (NSH). The NSH will grant a sale permit certificate to foreign products
that are FDA approved in the U.S. We recommend including FDA permission if available.
The Pharmacology Directorate requires a copy of the monograph for each new product,
except for essential pharmaceutical products. This monograph must include the
quantitative formula specifying the active ingredients, the pharmaceutical formula,
recommended dosage, expected product benefits and possible side effects. Three
samples of the product, as sold to the public, must be provided so the National
Laboratory (INLASA) can verify its content. The Directorate requires that products
comply with the regulations of the World Health Organization and the Pan-American
Health Organization.
The Directorate takes an average 6 to 12 months to review new products and only
one month for essential products. Its full address is as follows:
Ministerio de Salud y Prevision Social
Direccion Nacional de Medicamentos
Plaza del Estudiante
La Paz, Bolivia
Fax: (591-2) 492900; Tel.: (591-2) 492848
If the product contains drugs that are covered by the Vienna Convention, a special
import permit must be obtained from the Secretary of Health.
An imported product can be sold via established agents or distributors or through
a subsidiary. It is easier to market the product through an agent or representative
because they normally have easier access to the Directorate for Registration.
If registration is done by an agent or representative, it is mandated by law
that they have the exclusive right to import and they become the legal representative
in Bolivia.
Establishing a subsidiary can prove to be a difficult process taking four to
eight months. The company must be formed and its statutes must then be handwritten
and notarized, then published in a local newspaper. Approval to operate must
then be obtained from the Internal Revenue Office, the Secretary of Industry
and Commerce, and the local municipality.
In order to import, produce or distribute pharmaceuticals, the company must
also be registered with the Secretariat of Health. Registration fees are Bs.
5,000 (approx. US$ 846) for manufacturers and importers and Bs. 1,000 (approx.
US$ 169) for distributors. This registration process takes from 10 days to one
month after the subsidiary has been established.
Brand names must also be registered with the Vice Ministry of Industry and Commerce
at the following address:
Servicio Nacional de Propiedad Intelectual
Av. Camacho esq. Bueno
La Paz, Bolivia
Fax: 591-2-372047; Tel.: 591-2-372046
Import Requirements for Fishery Products
A sanitary health certificate is required for entry of imports of perishable
products, such as seafood products. There are other technical requirements,
such as, product specification standards, labeling and marking standards. The
competent authority in Bolivia to contact for public health concerns of imported
fishery products is:
Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural
Dirección General de Ganaderia y Pezca
Contact: Dr. Orlando Aguirre Banzer, Director
Tel.: (591-2) 379057 or 374270
The current sanitary importation regulations for fishery products are available
from the following office divisions of the above Ministry:
Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria e
Inocuidad Alimentaria (SENASAG)
Contact: Dr. Raul Añez, Director
Tel./fax: (591-2) 310396
E-mail: ranes@unete.com
Duties/Taxes and Customs Procedures for Information Technology Products
Any information technology product in Bolivia has a flat tariff rate of 10 %
ad valorem however; VAT taxes and others increase the value of the total duty
to 28 % of the total value of the product.
If a personal computer is purchased as a system, or as an individual component
duties/taxes are assessed the same for both.
Business travelers may enter a portable computer into Bolivia as a tool of trade
without payment of duties/ taxes and the computer may contain encrypted software.
No ATA carnet or other type of documentation or posting of a bond will be required.
For the time being duties and taxes are assessed on the medium on which the
intellectual property of the software is presented. Draft legislation on intellectual
property currently contemplated may change these rules.
Software sold with updates where the full sale prices, including cost of updates,
is shown on the original commercial invoice that is paid on the amount of the
updates to the local supplier.
If updates are sent at a later date duty and taxes have to be paid by the purchaser
based on the price of the updates only. Consequently, only the price of the
update should be shown in the commercial invoice.
Duties and taxes are levied on the ad-valorem price. No withholding or other
taxes are applied on software licenses.
Services related to the sale of software are taxed. The rate of taxes is 16
% value added tax and 3 % transaction making a total of 16 % on the total income.
U.S. information technology providers are permitted to send personnel into Bolivia
to set up hardware/software related items.
No special work visas or professional certifications are required if the residence
will not exceed three months.
No import duties and taxes are applied, for the time being, to software delivered
to the end-user over the Internet. It is expected, however, that this issue
will be included in the IPR legislation pending before the Bolivian Congress.
If software is sent to a distributor, duties and taxes must be applied. This
generally makes the product more expensive because of distributor's commission
will be included in the price.
Duties and taxes will then be applied on the combination of the medium and the
intellectual property.
Customs Procedures
The necessary documentation requirements for the tangible import of software
are: commercial invoice, freight and insurance costs, verification certificate
by one of the two foreign verification companies hired by the Government of
Bolivia, if the import is over US$ 1,000.
For the time being no document requirements apply to the import of digital products
over the Internet.
The importation of remanufactured parts for photocopiers, fax machines, laser
printers and toner cartridges is permitted. When any of the above is refurbished,
it requires a special label stating that the equipment has been refurbished.
The real value should be shown in the invoice, and duties and taxes are assessed
on the ad-valorem price.
Duties and taxes on the re-import of repaired computer equipment are assessed
on the repair or refurbished price. And the commercial invoice should show only
the repair or refurbished price.
Export Controls
To become a legal exporter from Bolivia, the interested company must obtain
a legal solicitorship. Once the solicitorship is obtained, the local company
must register with SIVEX, the Exporter's "one stop" system (Sistema de Ventanilla
Unica del Exportador) at the Vice Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
In order to export, the exporter must first present the following documents:
a commercial invoice, a packing list and a certificate of inspection issued
by one of the two government-contracted inspection companies. Next Customs issues
an exporter's bond. If the exported product is animal or vegetable, a sanitary
certificate must be obtained from the Vice Ministry of Agriculture.
SIVEX then grants the certificate of origin, which makes the exporter eligible
for duty-free treatment in countries offering Bolivia duty-free benefits.
Import/ Export Documentation
The following five documents should be presented to customs for all shipments
into Bolivia. It is not necessary to present these documents to a Bolivian Consulate
in the United States.
1. Seller's Commercial Invoice: This invoice may be completed in either
Spanish or English on the shipper's letterhead. The invoice must include a detailed
description of the products by item, the unit price and the total FOB price.
The invoice must also include the freight costs (either air or surface) and
the cost of insurance to the port of destination. If the invoice does not include
insurance and freight, Bolivian customs will charge a flat 5% of the FOB price.
This is necessary because the value-added tax is calculated on the basis of
the CIF price.
2. Bill of Lading or Airway Bill: The bill of lading must be presented
with two original bills -- both signed and sealed by the freight forwarder --
and two non-negotiable copies. One of the bills of lading, or a copy, should
accompany the original bill and the commercial invoice. Bills of lading may
not be drawn to the order of the shipper. They can be drawn to the order of
the consignee, who is permitted to endorse it over to a third party. For air
cargo, the airway bill is the bill of lading.
3. Insurance Policy: Customs requires a copy of the insurance policy
to calculate the value-added tax.
4. Packing List: The packing list facilitates customs inspections and
is beneficial to the importers in case of loss.
5. Inspection Certificate: Pre-shipment inspection is required on imported
products with an FOB value of US$1000 or more. Overseas agencies are under contract
to the Bolivian Government to administer the program. Inspections may be performed
in the port of origin or in Bolivia, by SGSs control services of New York (212/482-8700),
SGS Government Programs of Miami (305/592-0410) or Inspectorate of Miami (305/599-1124).
Special Documentation
* Sanitary and Purity Certificates for Livestock: Certificates of origin
indicating the livestock's state of health are required for the import of live
animals. Purebred livestock imported for breeding purposes also require a pedigree
certificate. Live plants and all seeds, except for vegetable and flower seeds,
require sanitary certificates.
* Certificate of Analysis for Pharmaceutical Products: Pharmaceuticals
are subject to strict quality control regulations. A certificate of analysis
in Spanish, which may be issued by a reliable manufacturer, must accompany imports.
This certificate must include expiration dates. The FDA certificate fulfills
the requirements of Bolivian authorities.
* Product Labels for Pharmaceutical Products: Labels on pharmaceutical
products should be in Spanish. In addition, pharmaceuticals must be registered
with the Vice Ministry of Health before they are imported.
* Sale Permit Certificate for Insecticides: Prior to import or sale,
all insecticides must be approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cattle
(MAG). The MAG will issue a sale permit certificate for products, which were
previously approved in their country of origin.
* Sanitary Certificate for Food Products: Food shipments require a sanitary
certificate issued by the pertinent authority of the exporting country -- e.g.,
from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Foodstuffs may be subject to analysis
by an official entity in Bolivia, and most food and beverage labels must be
registered in Bolivia. Exporters are encouraged to check with importers regarding
relevant policies prior to shipment.
For specific information regarding existing foreign agricultural standards and
testing, packaging, and certification systems, please contact:
Technical Office for International Trade
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Building 1072, Barc-East
Beltsville, MD 20705
Tel: 301/344-2651
For more information on procedures relating to animals and plants, and their
by-products, please contact:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
6505 Beltcrest Road
Hyattsville, MD 20782
Tel: 301/436-8590 (Veterinary Services); 301/436-8537 (Plant Inspection)
APHIS maintains a service office in the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru (Tel: [511-2]
211202; Fax: [511-2] 334635).
Air Cargo
Air cargo shipments require airway bills instead of bills of lading. Follow
IATA or ICAO rules governing labeling and packaging of dangerous and restricted
goods. Check with your air carrier for further information and the appropriate
forms.
Parcel Post
An authorized customs broker must intervene for parcel post shipments valued
at over US$100. A private person may receive parcel post valued up to US$100
without the intervention of a customs broker just by filing out a customs form
at the post office.
Entry and Warehousing
Bolivia is a landlocked country which uses ports of entry in Chile, Peru, Brazil,
Argentina and Uruguay (by river) through free transit agreements with these
countries. Arica (Chile) is generally considered to be the best port of entry.
Other main ports are Antofagasta (Chile); Matarani and Ilo (Peru); Santos (Brazil);
and Rosario (Argentina). Bolivian customs maintains warehousing facilities in
each of these ports, where incoming goods may be stored for 90 days. The charge
for customs storage is 0.5% of CIF for each 30-day period or fraction thereof.
Once clearing documents are signed, goods must be removed from storage within
eight days to avoid an additional charge of 2% of CIF.
Imported merchandise may be considered abandoned either by an explicit request
or by failure to claim it within the required 90 days. By law such goods are
subject to public auction, the proceeds of which go to the interested party
after expenses are deducted.
If importers wish to remove their merchandise after the 90-day period but before
the auction takes place, they must pay a 5% charge over the customs tariff plus
2% of CIF. due to the expense and time involved in reshipment, U.S. exporters
usually prefer to sell refused goods in Bolivia.
Temporary Entry
Manufacturers may distribute products through international trade fairs. When
this channel is used, capital goods destined for the productive sector enter
under temporary import permission for an exhibition period of 90 days, with
a bank guarantee note equal to 1% of the CIF value. Within this period the goods
may be nationalized or re-exported. If nationalized, duties for certain capital
goods may be discounted by 50% under the preferential customs policy granted
to international trade fairs.
A temporary importation permit (TIP) can be issued by customs for goods intended
as samples, exhibitions, natural disaster relief machinery and equipment, equipment
and apparatus for testing and scientific research, aircraft and vehicles for
tourism, equipment for petroleum exploration and exploitation and other similar
items intended for re-export.
These goods are allowed entry without payment of duty under a bank bond covering
all duties and customs fees and the guarantee of a local customs brokers.
A TIP is allowed for a period of 90 days, which can be extended only once for
an additional 90-day period. If a longer period is required, the local customs
broker must obtain a special permit from the Ministry of Finance valid for one
year on behalf of the importer. In order to obtain the one-year special permit,
the importer must have a contract to justify the temporary admission.
Labeling and Marking Requirements
Bolivia does not require special labeling indicating origin and type of merchandise.
Retail packages must show weight or measure of contents in metric units.
Special regulations govern the importation of cigars, cigarettes and tobacco.
All goods coming by ship to Bolivia transit through foreign ports of entry.
Packages and containers should clearly indicate gross weight in kilograms, serial
numbers and the words "en transito a Bolivia." For Chilean ports, markings must
be stenciled.
Prohibited Imports
Prohibited items for import include:
Free Trade Zones/Warehouses
Bolivia has established nine Free Trade Zones (FTZ), six of which are now in
full operation:
1. El Alto (serving La Paz)
2. Puerto Aguirre (near Puerto Suarez, on the border with Brazil)
3. Cochabamba
4. Santa Cruz
5. Oruro
6. Desaguadero (near La Paz, on the border with Peru)
Two others -- in San Matias in the Department of Santa Cruz and Guayaramerin
in the Department of Beni -- are not yet fully operational. Another -- in Cobija,
in northern Bolivia -- has not proven to be attractive to investors, because
of the lack of roads and other basic infrastructure.
Bolivian FTZs are regulated by the National Council of Free Trade Zones (CONZOF),
which was created by the 1990 Investment Law. FTZs are operated by private companies
selected by the Government through public bids. There are special procedures
which must be followed to obtain approval to operate in these zones. Export
processing zones have up to 180 days duty-free treatment (RITEX) to assemble
kits and produce parts for re-export.
Special Import Provisions
Samples and advertising materials are usually subject to regular duty rates,
except those articles specifically prepared as samples -- for example, shoes
cut in half, small patches of fabric and pharmaceutical products and liquors
contained in small bottles clearly marked "free sample" ("muestra gratuita").
If commercial samples do not exceed US$25 in value, they do not require commercial
invoices.
The ministry of agriculture, cattle and rural development, on January 8, 2001
issued a ministerial resolution by which grants the SENASAG the right to control
the importation of genetically modified food products and foods of agricultural
origin.
Consequently, SENASAG will not allow, for the period of one year, the importation
of those genetically modified food products. Enforcement of this administrative
decision is not uniform. Further information may be obtained from: Servicio
Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria e Inocuidad Alimentaria (SENASAG)
Contact: Dr. Raul Añez, Director
Tel./fax: (591-2) 310396
e-mail: ranes@unete.com
Duty Exemptions and Reductions
Either exemptions or reductions are permitted for:
Membership in Free Trade Arrangements
Bolivia signed a Free Trade Agreement with MERCOSUR (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay,
Uruguay and Chile) which became effective on March 1, 1997. Under this Agreement,
Bolivia became an associate member of MERCOSUR, just as Chile is. In March 1997
more than 30% of all products traded between Bolivia and the four full MERCOSUR
members became tariff-free, and the vast majority of the remainder will enjoy
zero tariffs after ten years. (Some sensitive products will not become tariff
free for up to 18 years.)
Bolivia is also a member of the Andean Community (with Colombia, Venezuela,
Ecuador and Peru), which has removed all internal trade barriers. Bolivia has
also signed Bilateral Trade Agreements with some South American countries which
eliminate or reduce tariffs on explicit lists of products. Bolivia signed a
free trade agreement with Mexico in September 1994. The Bilateral Investment
Treaty (BIT) with the U.S. has been in-force since June 7, 2001. The European
Union, Japan and the United States all allow most Bolivian exports to enter
their markets at either duty-free or reduced duty rates. Bolivia acceded to
the GATT in 1989 and ratified its membership in September 1990. The Bolivian
Congress subsequently ratified Bolivia's membership in the World Trade Organization
(WTO) in 1995.
Openness to Foreign Investment
Successive Bolivian governments have avidly sought to attract foreign investors
to augment the country's asset base. These governments have been aware that
large infusions of foreign direct investment are necessary -- but not sufficient
-- if Bolivia is to achieve significant per capita growth. The Capitalization
Program (Bolivia's version of privatization) was the centerpiece of the previous
government's investment strategy; today, the investments in hydrocarbons, telecommunications
and agricultural are the foci of the future.
Foreign-ownership is allowed virtually throughout the economy, with no requirement
to register foreign direct investment separately. The Bolivian Constitution
restricts investments by foreigners in operations along the border areas, unless
the investment or project is declared as of national interest. Foreign investment
is neither screened nor treated in a discriminatory manner. There are no registration
requirements for foreign direct investors in Bolivia or any special incentives
for domestic or foreign investment.
Since 1990 successive governments have passed laws which set clear "rules of
the game" governing private investment of all types. The Investment Law (1990)
guarantees foreign investors would receive national treatment, have access to
free currency conversion, unrestricted remittances and enjoy the right to international
arbitration in most industries.
New laws governing activities in the mining (1997) and hydrocarbon (1996) sectors
authorized joint ventures with state-owned corporations and modified the tax
system to allow foreign firms paying taxes in Bolivia to obtain foreign tax
credits in their home countries. The Mining Law also allowed foreign firms to
operate within 50 kilometers of international borders through joint ventures
or service contracts with Bolivian mining companies, with the exception of firms
which are resident of the country adjacent to the affected border. The Hydrocarbons
Law mandated settlement of disputes through arbitration. The Arbitration and
Conciliation Law (Law 1770, 1997) provided procedures and enforcement mechanisms
for international arbitration.
New laws regarding banking were passed in 1993. The Banking Law clarified the
legality of such activities as factoring, leasing and foreign currency hedging.
It also allowed banks to maintain accounts in foreign currencies, clearly a
popular development: today over 90% of all deposits in the Bolivian banking
system are denominated in U.S. dollars or held in dollar-pegged accounts. The
Banking Law also clarified the roles of the Central Bank and the Superintendent
of Banks and redefined capital and reserve requirements.
Bolivia has no laws that directly regulate competition, such as our own anti-trust
laws. Instead, articles regulating unfair competition are scattered throughout
the country's laws governing activity in the various economic sectors. In fact,
several permanent and temporary monopolies exist in Bolivia; five temporary
monopolies were transferred to private control through the capitalization program
in 1995-97. The period that capitalized companies will enjoy a temporary monopoly
was established in their respective contracts, and each sector will eventually
be liberalized.
The Government of Bolivia created the Sectoral Regulatory System (SIRESE) partly
to balance the potential market power of these monopolies. SIRESE is an autonomous
regulatory body made up of a General Superintendent and five Sectoral Superintendents
which regulates many aspects of business in the telecommunications, electricity,
transport, hydrocarbons and water sectors. Pricing of most public utilities
are reviewed and approved by the respective Superintendent. Market forces establish
most prices, but regulated prices must follow a formula or a procedure in the
superintendencies. However, municipalities set the local rates for water and
garbage collection.
All future oil exploration activity will be carried out via joint venture contracts,
which YPFB administers. Although most of the mines currently owned by the Bolivian
Mining Corporation (COMIBOL) cannot be purchased outright, they can be operated
in a joint venture or under a leasing contract with COMIBOL.
The Bolivian Government enacted an Agrarian Law in 1996 which set out the rights
and obligations of land ownership, incorporated the concept of sustainable development,
established a new institutional framework for the development of land use and
created an independent Agrarian Superintendent to administer the law's provisions.
A definitive registry of land titles -- essential to the provision of credit
-- has been financed by the European Union and is underway.
Foreign firms are able to participate in government research programs, although
few if any programs exist. Work permit, visa and residence requirements are
non-discriminatory.
The government sets a minimum monthly wage each year; currently it is about
US$ 62, although nearly all workers in the formal private sector earn more than
the minimum wage. On average, factory workers earn the equivalent of US$100
per month plus benefits. The hydrocarbons sector had the highest paying jobs
at US$413 monthly.
Although some bureaucratic procedures have been reduced, plenty of red tape
and archaic policies remain at all levels of Bolivian Government. The Banzer
Administration worked to "de-bureaucratize" the government with at best modest
success. The Quiroga government has made the fight against corruption a priority.
The scale of corruption in Bolivia was reduced significantly by the capitalization
program, which passed control of the largest state entities to private hands.
Until further dramatic changes are undertaken, bribes will continue to be paid
by hapless and/or conniving businesses to move their paperwork faster through
the bureaucratic maze or to gain contracts, and evasion of taxes and duties
will remain a common practice, but the new administration is determined to address
these problems vigorously.
Conversion and Transfer Policies
There is free currency conversion at local banks and exchange houses. The official
exchange rate is set by a daily auction of dollars managed by the Central Bank.
The Central Bank offers a given amount of U.S. dollars each day but sets an
undisclosed minimum floor price. In this way the Central Bank has since 1985
managed a steady depreciation of the local currency, the Boliviano, in line
with the rate of inflation. The parallel rate has tracked the official rate
closely, suggesting that the market finds the Central Bank's policy acceptable.
There are no restrictions on any kind of remittances.
Expropriation and Compensation
Article 22 of the Bolivian Constitution provides that property may be expropriated
for the public good or when the property does not fulfill a "social purpose";
it also stipulates that just compensation must be provided. The Mining and Hydrocarbons
Laws provide the means to expropriate land needed to develop the underlying
concession.
The last expropriation in Bolivia occurred in 1969, when the Government nationalized
petroleum concessions granted to the local branch of Gulf Oil. Although the
compensation agreement allowed for a 30-year payment period, the entire compensation
due to Gulf Oil was paid off in seven years.
There have been no cases of discrimination in expropriation targeting U.S. companies.
However, there is currently an unsolved dispute between a U.S.-based provider
of cellular phone services and the Bolivian Government in which the U.S. company
maintains Government actions have robbed the company of its ability to provide
a service for which it had long-standing permits provided by the proper authorities.
Although the company invested millions of dollars in equipment which remains
idle, a final settlement of the matter does not appear imminent.
Moreover, in 1997, the GOB issued an international bidding process to call for
tenders to privatize Cochabamba's water company (SEMAPA). Although the concession
contract was awarded in April 1999 to Aguas del Tunari -- an international consortium,
lead by International Water Limited/Bechtel -- the water regulator revoked the
contract after violent protests in Cochabamba during October and November 2000.
The company and the GOB have held several meetings to resolve the contract.
By June 2001, both parties were not able to agree on any settlement and the
company is planning to take the contract for international arbitration.
Dispute Settlement
Property and contractual rights may be enforced in Bolivian courts, but the
legal process at best is time-consuming and at worst can be subject to political
influence and corruption. For that reason, the National Chamber of Commerce
-- with assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development -- has
established a local Arbitration Tribunal. The Investment Law provides that investors
may submit their differences to arbitration in accordance with the constitution
and international norms. The U.S.-Bolivia Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT)
signed on June 7, 2001 extended these rights even further for U.S. investors.
The Bolivian Government accepts binding international arbitration in all sectors.
The 1997 Arbitration and Conciliation Law created an alternative means by which
businesses can resolve commercial legal disputes and provided a more comprehensive
framework for national and international arbitration. This law stated that international
agreements, such as the New York Convention of 1958 on the Recognition and Enforcement
of Foreign Arbitrage Awards, will be honored. It also mandated the recognition
of foreign decisions and awards and established procedures for the Supreme Court
to execute any such decision/award.
There are a number of efforts under way to reform and improve Bolivia's justice
system that are beginning to bear fruit. However, entrenched interests continue
to resist the implementation of many reforms. We note that the decisions of
the Supreme Court in the past have been influenced by outside factors, throwing
into doubt any ability to enforce these decisions effectively.
Nevertheless, there have been Bolivian court decisions that have been fair and
have benefited U.S. companies, including a landmark decision by the Constitutional
Tribunal in late 1999 affecting a U.S. telecommunications company. However,
neither Bolivian nor foreign companies can yet rely on the judicial system to
enforce respect for contracts or other forms of fair and impartial justice.
It is highly recommended that U.S. companies include an international arbitration
clause in all contracts with Bolivian private and public entities.
Bolivia has a functional Commercial Code whose roots date from 1939. Since there
is no bankruptcy law, most (if not all) loans are secured with collateral. Although
imprisonment for debt has been abolished, creditors have been known to press
trumped-up criminal charges against debtors and others in commercial disputes.
Performance Requirements/Incentives
The Bolivian Government does not impose any performance requirements as conditions
for establishing, maintaining or expanding an establishment. Nor does it provide
tax or investment incentives which discriminate against foreign investors.
Right to Private Ownership and Establishment
Foreign and domestic entities share the same rights to establish, acquire and
dispose of interests in business enterprises, as well as to engage in remunerative
activity. All private enterprises enjoy the same access to markets, credit,
licenses and supplies as public enterprises, given the exceptions noted above
regarding the legal sanctioning of certain monopolies.
Protection of Property Rights
In general, Bolivian law guarantees property rights. Both chattel and real property
rights are recognized and enforced. Mortgages exist and can be obtained through
the local financial system. The Office of Property Registry provides a means
to protect and facilitate acquisition and disposition of property rights for
land, real estate and mortgages.
Successive administrations have sought to improve the enforcement of private
property rights, with varying degrees of success. The Sanchez de Lozada Administration
enacted the Agrarian Law to reform the National Service of Agrarian Reform and
the Institute of Colonization, both of which handled land registry. The Banzer/Quiroga
Administration proposed a new chattel mortgage legislation to facilitate financial
institutions accepting chattel as collateral. Despite these reform efforts,
challenges to land titles are common and an adequate system for title searches
is lacking. Competing claims to land titles and the absence of a reliable legal
process to resolve land title disputes creates risk and uncertainty in real
property acquisition.
Intellectual Property Rights
Bolivia's existing legislation governing protection of intellectual property
rights (IPR) is weak, and enforcement efforts have been largely ineffective.
The only way one can currently ensure the effective protection of trademarks
or other intellectual property is to hire a local attorney to initiate a civil
court action against offenders. The 1992 Copyright Law recognizes copyright
infringement as a public offense, and in May 2001 the new Bolivian Procedures
Penal Code began to provide for the criminal prosecution of IPR violations.
However, laws are largely unenforced.
The government is undertaking halting steps to modernize both its legislation
and its enforcement capabilities regarding the protection of IPR. The Ministry
of Justice completed a draft IPR reform law during 2000 that was submitted to
Congress for ratification. However, the Congress was not able to fully assess
and approve it as of July 2001. As a member of the Andean Community, Bolivia
is obligated to comply with Andean Community Decisions, specifically Andean
Decision 486 on IPR. The Bolivian Minister of Justice has stated that the ministry
will modify the draft IPR law to conform with this and other IPR-related Andean
Decisions.
In early 1999 the Bolivian Government established an independent National Intellectual
Property Rights Service (SENAPI) which united the previously disparate offices
which enforced industrial rights and the rights of authors under one authority.
In May 1998, the Banzer Administration enacted supreme Decree 25055, which sets
general guidelines for this national service. This effort should bring new coherency
to government efforts to protect IPR effectively. Bolivia has joined the World
Intellectual Property Organization, and the Congress has approved its accession
to the Paris, Geneva and Bern Conventions.
The 1992 Bolivian Copyright Law provides IPR protection for literary, artistic
and scientific works for the lifetime of the author plus 50 years. It protects
the rights of Bolivian authors, of foreign authors domiciled in Bolivia and
of foreign authors published for the first time in Bolivia. Foreigners not domiciled
in Bolivia enjoy protection under the Copyright Law to the extent provided in
international conventions and treaties to which Bolivia is a party. Bolivian
copyright protection includes the exclusive right: to copy or reproduce work;
to revise, adapt or prepare derivative works; to distribute copies of the work;
and to communicate the work publicly.
Although the exclusive right to translate the work is not explicitly granted
in the law, it does prevent unauthorized adaptation, transformation, modification
and editing. The law also provides protection for software and databases.
The 1991 Bolivian Film and Video Law also contains elements of IPR protection.
The law created a National Movie Council (CONACINE) to coordinate, control and
carry out various activities related to the movie industry. The law also requires
that all films and videos shown or distributed in Bolivia be registered with
CONACINE.
Television stations have been among the worst IPR violators in Bolivia, often
not paying rights to broadcast TV programs. The Superintendent of Telecommunications
has implemented some measures designed to ensure that only licensed material
is televised, but these actions have been limited, and TV piracy continues to
thrive.
Presently, patent registration inquires are reviewed by clerks for form rather
than for substance. A notice of the proposed patent registration is then published
in the Official Gazette. If there are no objections within 50 days, a patent
is granted for a period of 15 years. The patent must be used in Bolivia within
two years to preserve its validity.
The registration of trademarks parallels that of patents, except that the period
for objections to a trademark registration is 18 months after publication. Once
obtained, a trademark is valid for a 10-year period which is renewable. It becomes
null if not used over an 18-month period.
There is a significant backlog in patent and trademark registrations. Even though
the Patent Office receives only 500-600 patent applications a year, there is
a backlog of around 800 unprocessed cases, with some applications dating back
to as far as 1996. One large U.S. company recently complained of irregularities
and long delays in registering its trademarks with SENAPI. Although SENAPI has
made progress since the appointment of a new director in September 1999, the
agency is seriously underfunded, lacks qualified technical personnel, and lacks
the institutional capacity to enforce IPR protections.
There are presently no laws protecting trade secrets.
Transparency of the Regulatory System
The Bolivian Government created a Sectoral Regulation System (SIRESE) in October
1994 to control and supervise the activities pertaining to electricity, telecommunications,
hydrocarbons, transportation and water sectors according to legal norms. A group
of individual laws formed the legal framework for the capitalization of various
formerly state-owned entities. The Electricity Law (1994), the Telecommunications
Law (1995) and the Hydrocarbons Law (1996) defined the functions and attributions
of their respective superintendents.
The five superintendencies are autarchic and autonomous institutions whose activities
are financed through the assessment of rates on firms operating in their respective
sectors. SIRESE is headed by the General Superintendent whose office is empowered
to hear appeals of decisions handed down by the individual superintendents.
An individual superintendent leads each superintendency and is autonomous of
the General Superintendent. Concessions of public services and licenses are
granted by administrative resolution issued by the respective superintendent.
The SIRESE Law establishes general principles governing anti-competitive practices.
Specifically, companies engaged in regulated activities are forbidden from participating
in agreements, contracts, decisions and/or practices whose purpose or effect
is to hinder, restrict or distort free competition.
A similar system has just been created for the financial sector. The Superintendent
of Hierarchical Resources is a non-judicial forum for appeals of decisions by
the superintendents for banking and non-banking services.
The Government has drafted a new Administrative Procedures Law designed to enhance
public participation in the rulemaking process and strengthen the administration
of public agencies. However, after undergoing several revisions, the draft law
was submitted to the Bolivian Congress for adoption on February 2001. Although
important provisions of the original bill were deleted in the latest draft,
including the requirements that agencies state the basis for administrative
decisions and provide public access to agency files, it still represents a major
step forward in improving Bolivia's administrative system. Nonetheless the law
does not cover any of the superintendencies under the SIRESE.
Efficient Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment
Historically, Bolivian commercial banks were closely held operations that lent
only to persons or firms well known to the bank. Now these same banks are under
increasing pressure to reform, pressure generated by both new foreign entrants
to the market and the existence of significant amounts of resources to loan
and of insufficient collateral available to back these loans. As a result Bolivian
bankers are slowly developing in-house capabilities to adjudicate credit risk
and to evaluate expected rates of return according to international norms. Continuing
buyouts of local banks by foreign interests in the coming year are expected
to compel all banks to refine this basic ability in the shortest possible period.
In the interim, foreign investors may find it difficult to qualify for loans
from local banks due to their large amounts and continuing requirement that
domestic loans only be made against domestic collateral. However, the Superintendency
of Banks recently issued new regulations designed to facilitate bank lending
to companies based on a cash flow analysis. Since commercial credit is generally
extended on a short-term basis at fairly high interest rates, most foreign investors
prefer to obtain credit offshore.
Another option available to established Bolivian companies is the issuance of
short- or medium-term debt in the local securities exchange. Currently, the
principal activity of the exchange is to provide a secondary market for Central
Bank certificates of deposit. It seeks, however, to increase its handling of
local corporate bond issues, and the passage of the Securities Law (1998) provides
the groundwork for creating a truly modern exchange. The Securities Law also
established a securities commission that has already approved the establishment
of several Bolivian mutual funds. A Bolivian company and two foreign companies
were able to raise significant amounts of funding from the Bolivian capital
market during 2000 and the first quarter of 2001
Unfortunately, few local companies issue stock, making the choices for these
funds quite limited. Bolivian accounting principles are not in line with world
standards. It is common for Bolivian firms to maintain various sets of books:
one set for the tax authorities; another for its bankers; and another for the
management's own use.
The 1993 Banking Law was a first step towards modernizing the Bolivian banking
system. This law addresses such emerging areas as establishing rules governing
factoring and leasing and set parameters for bank holding companies. The 1995
Central Bank Law refined the Central Bank's controls over the banking sector,
setting higher reserve requirements and eliminating the insider lending that
has been the bane of Bolivian banks and has led to the collapse of many.
The Banzer/Quiroga Administration enacted additional changes to the regulatory
financial framework. The Law of Property and Popular Credit (1998) modified
the regulatory system governing the non-banking financial system. It created
a Prudential Norms Financial Committee (CONFIP) which will issue financial regulations
for the whole financial system without interfering in currency exchange and
monetary policies, which remain the purview of the Central Bank. The law also
created the Superintendent of Appeals that forms the first instance of appeal
to decisions made by the Superintendent of Pension, Insurance and Securities.
The new law also authorized the creation of private financial funds, savings
and loans cooperatives and non-governmental organizations that can grant credit,
in an effort to promote better access to credit and other financial services
throughout the country, much of which has no banks. Also, the Government of
Bolivia is currently assessing additional financial laws such as a proposed
Deposits Insurance Law.
The financial system is dominated by banks, though the largest bank is not big
compared to international standards: it has a total equity of about US$90 million.
As a result of the economic downturn during 1999 - 2000, most bank indicators
deteriorated. Banks' portfolio significantly decreased from US$ 4,053 million
in 1999 to US$ 3,590 million in 2000, while bank total liquidity dropped from
US$ 1,094 million to US$ 936 million over the same period. Deposits fell by
US$ 400 million during the year, from US$ 4,453 million to US$ 4,041 million
as of December 2000. Liabilities with foreign creditors decreased from US$ 788.4
million in December 1999 to US$ 418.8 million as of December 2000. Medium- and
short-term banking obligations fell by half in the same period. The portfolio
of loans in arrears increased significantly from around 6.5% of the total in
December 1999 to over 11.57% at the end of 2000. Throughout the year, private
agriculture and industrial entrepreneurs have been requesting that the administration
ease banking regulations and reschedule delinquent loans as a result of the
precarious social and economic situation. Two reactivation plans were designed
to resolve these problems, which have had very limited success. During 1999
and 2000 the economic crisis was reflected in rising indebtedness rates. As
a result, bank managers have reacted by conducting financial operations more
carefully and closely following strict prudential norms.
There is a body of financial regulation that establishes some limits to cross
shareholding and promote stable shareholders. At the same time it orders restrict
financial transaction for managers and high managers.
The capital markets regulator is designing several regulation that will prevent
hostile takeovers and to protect minority shareholders.
There are no regulations that limit foreign investment, participation or control
of domestic enterprises.
Political Violence
Bolivia suffered two major periods of social unrest in 2000. In April 2000,
protests surrounding foreign investment in the municipal water system (see Section
Expropriation and Compensation) spread throughout the country, with anti-government
protesters blocking roads and staging demonstrations. Roadblocks were more serious
in September/October 2000, when rural indigenous groups, illegal coca growers,
and a variety of labor and social movements coalesced in opposition to Government
of Bolivia policies. Concessions by the Government ended those protests, but
not before the roadblocks had caused serious economic hardship and disrupted
Bolivian exports.
The most dramatic incidence of violence in recent years occurred when two gold
mines in Potosi -- Amayapampa and Capacirca -- were seized by local miners in
December 1996. The protests were related inter alia to local factors, as well
as to the manner by which COMIBOL awarded mining concessions and the increasingly
desperate situation faced by mining cooperatives throughout Bolivia. The Bolivian
army was sent to retake the mines, and in the ensuing confrontation there were
several civilian deaths and one military death.
Corruption
Corruption is a problem throughout Bolivia's political structure, with greater
incidence occurring at lower levels of government and the judiciary. There have
been notable instances of action against corruption. For example, two Supreme
Court judges -- including the Chief Justice -- were removed in 1994 after they
were found guilty of soliciting and accepting bribes. Although there is no overt
government interference in the court system, judges in Bolivia are political
appointees and susceptible to political pressure.
The threat of corruption complicates the activities of U.S. firms that have
invested in or that trade with Bolivia. The most egregious cases have involved
individuals employing the legal system to harass firms or to exact exorbitant
payments. There have even been cases of representatives of U.S. firms threatened
with detention for criminal charges of "sabotage" as well as others served with
notices prohibiting them from leaving the country.
Despite evidence of corruption, in the past there are few cases of government
or judicial officials being successfully prosecuted for their crimes. Certain
acts of corruption are illegal under specific provisions of laws, and laws and
institutions are being strengthened to improve this dismal record.
The judicial system's weaknesses are well known, and the last three administrations
-- headed respectively by presidents from the MIR, MNR and ADN parties -- have
all worked consistently towards the goal of reforming the system. The first
fruits of this multi-party effort are just now becoming evident, with new institutions
being created which will fundamentally change how justice is provided in Bolivia.
The situation could improve markedly in the coming years. Not surprisingly,
there is resistance from entrenched interests--which makes full implementation
of reforms difficult.
Additionally, the Government of Bolivia is working with the IMF to overhaul
and cleanse the Customs Administration from top to bottom and with the IBRD
to implement a wider-ranging reform to address corruption within the bureaucracy
of the national government. The Banzer Administration enacted a Customs Reform
Law in August of 1999, which is being implemented over a 36-month period. Under
the dynamic leadership of a new customs director, the National Customs Service
made a significant dent in contraband imports into Bolivia during 1999-2000,
and continues its reform efforts despite fierce opposition.
Bilateral Investment Agreements
Bolivia has signed bilateral investment agreements (BITs) with Argentina, Belgium/Luxembourg,
China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Romania, Spain,
Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States (1997). The U.S.-Bolivia
BIT was fully implemented in June 7, 2001.
There are six basic reciprocal provisions of the U.S.-Bolivia BIT:
OPIC and Other Investment Insurance Programs
An Investment Insurance Agreement signed in 1985 by Bolivia and the U.S. Overseas
Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) provides for a full range of OPIC programs,
including insurance, financing and use of OPIC's Opportunity Bank. OPIC provides
financing assistance through direct loans and through guarantees of loans by
private U.S. financial institutions for investments by U.S.-based firms in Bolivia.
OPIC has worked with a growing number of new investors -- particularly in providing
project loans, insurance against inconvertibility, expropriation and political
risk -- and is eager to do more business in Bolivia.
The IBRD's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) has offered a complete
line of investment guarantees to foreign investors in Bolivia since October
1991.
In 1993, the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) increased its exposure in Bolivia.
At that time it entered into a series of credit guarantee facilities with local
banks, with terms of up to five years. EXIM is also willing to work directly
with qualified private companies in providing loans and insurance. EXIM will
also consider individual transactions with Bolivian banks that do not yet have
sufficient net worth to qualify for the establishment of a credit guarantee
facility.
Labor
About half of Bolivia's population of 8.2 million is considered "economically
active" (working at least one hour a week), a figure that includes early teenagers
and older children formally prohibited from working by law. Official unemployment
in the year 2000 was 7.56 %, and of those employed only 29 % were working 40
hours a week. The liberal definition of an "economically active" or employed
person masks substantial underemployment and subsistence-level "informal" economic
work.
In May 2001, the official minimum wage amounted to US$ 62 per month. General
economic stagnation from 1999 into 2001 has resulted in slipping nominal wages,
with the average in formal, urban employment at just US$ 75 per month. Bolivia's
still substantial rural population, often self-employed in subsistence agriculture,
makes less. Overall, between 60 and 65 % of working Bolivians are considered
to be participants in the "informal economy," where no employee-employer relationship
exists.
Foreign investors have found the labor force to be stable, with low rates of
turnover and with high levels of manual dexterity. The country's generally low
levels of education and literacy tend to limit the productivity of Bolivia's
labor, in line with its low cost. There is abundant manpower readily available
for foreign as well as domestic investors, although skilled manpower is harder
to find.
The average wage for a factory worker is about US$100 per month. Benefits --
including a Christmas bonus "aguinaldo" equal to one month's salary, as well
as retirement payments -- can add another 30 % to the wage bill. There is an
official minimum wage that currently was set at about US$ 62 per month.
Bolivian Labor Law guarantees workers the right to organize and bargain collectively.
Most companies are unionized. Nearly all unions belong to the Confederation
of Bolivian Workers (COB), a militant organization whose calls for strikes often
go unheeded. In fact, extensive labor unrest is uncommon in Bolivia, and most
foreign firms active here enjoy positive relations between labor and management.
Bolivian Labor Law guarantees workers the right of association, restricts child
labor and provides for worker safety. Effective enforcement, however, often
proves to be lacking.
Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports
The Bolivian government created free trade zones (FTZs) through two Supreme
Decrees (D.S. 22410 and D.S. 22526) which provided the legal framework for their
establishment and operation. All FTZ operations must be authorized by the National
Council on Free Trade Zones (CONZOF), which coordinates, sets and controls all
the industrial and commercial free zones. Currently FTZ's exist in the cities
of El Alto (the Department of La Paz), Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Puerto Aguirre
(Santa Cruz), Oruro, and Desaguadero (La Paz). Two others -- in San Matias in
the Department of Santa Cruz and Guayaramerin in the Department of Beni -- are
not yet fully operational. Another -- in Cobija, in northern Bolivia -- has
not proven to be attractive to investors, because of the lack of roads and other
basic infrastructure. All Bolivian labor laws apply in FTZs.
Foreign Direct Investment
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment reports that U.S. companies as
a group were the largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Bolivia
in 2000, totaling US$ 336.7 million or 45 % of the approximately US$750 million
invested. Most foreign direct investment is in the mining, telecommunications,
electricity and hydrocarbons sectors. Of total FDI that went into Bolivia in
2000, US$ 330 million went to the hydrocarbons sector, US$317.5 million to commerce/services,
US$28.5 million to mining, and US$73.5 million to agriculture and industry.
Details of total investment are given in the table below:
Private FDI Flow for 2000:
(in US$ millions)
| Hydrocarbons | 330.4 |
| Mining | 28.5 |
| Industry and Agroindustry | 73.5 |
| Commerce/Services | 317.5 |
| Total | 750.1 |
There are no registration requirements for foreign direct investors in Bolivia.
There is also ample anecdotal evidence that there have been many investments
made recently throughout the economy by investors from Brazil, Argentina and
Chile.
FDI Flow
| (in US$ millions) |
1999
|
2000*
|
| United States |
301.8
|
336.7
|
| Argentina |
157.8
|
9.2
|
| Italy |
64.4
|
51.8
|
| Chile |
16.0
|
2.8
|
| Brazil |
144.0
|
38.5
|
| Canada |
1.2
|
1.9
|
| Spain |
19.0
|
39.9
|
| Peru |
11.8
|
5.9
|
| Holland |
99.9
|
45.1
|
*Preliminary
8. TRADE AND PROJECT FINANCING
Description of the Banking System
The Central Bank and 13 privately owned banks comprise Bolivia's banking system.
Commercial banks account for over 85% of the deposits and loan portfolio of
the formal Bolivian financial system. The remaining 15% have been concentrated
in savings and loans, credit unions and other financial institutions. As of
December 15, 2000, total deposits in the banking system averaged US$3.4 billion,
of which over 95 % were in U.S. dollar-denominated deposits.
Citibank is presently the only U.S. Bank with an interest in a local bank. This
bank, formerly known as BHN/Multibanco was renamed "Citibank, S.A:" and is now
100 % owned by Citibank. The purchase of BHN has caused a number of problems
for Citibank. During 1999, Citibank began to offer mortgage loans with very
competitive conditions for the Bolivian financial market. However, Citibank
sold all its retail business to domestic banks and announced that it was going
to concentrate in corporate banking during 2000.
All commercial banks provide regular banking services, accepting deposits for
both checking and savings accounts and offering short- and medium-term loans.
Local banks are authorized to hold U.S. Dollar-denominated time deposits.
The 1993 Banking Law was a first step towards modernizing the Bolivian banking
system. The new law addresses such emerging areas as establishing rules governing
factoring and leasing and set parameters for bank holding companies. The 1995
Central Bank Law refined the Central Bank's controls over the banking sector,
setting higher reserve requirements and eliminating the insider lending that
has been the bane of Bolivian banks and has led to the collapse of many.
The Banzer Administration enacted additional changes to the regulatory financial
framework. The Law of Property and Popular Credit (1998) modified the regulatory
system governing the non-banking financial system. It created a Prudential Norms
Financial Committee (CONIFP) which will issue financial regulations for the
whole financial system without interfering in currency exchange and monetary
policies, which remain the purview of the Central Bank. The law also created
the Superintendent of Appeals that forms the first instance of appeal to decisions
made by the Superintendent of Pension, Insurance and Securities. The new law
also authorized the creation of private financial funds, savings and loans cooperatives
and non-governmental organizations that can grant credit, in an effort to promote
better access to credit and other financial services throughout the country,
much of which has no banks. Also, the Government of Bolivia is currently assessing
additional financial laws such as a proposed Deposits Insurance Law.
Foreign Exchange Controls Affecting Trade
Bolivia places no controls on foreign exchange transactions,
beyond those that intended to curb money laundering. (See the section entitled
"Conversion and Transfer Policies" for more details.)
The Boliviano ("Bs") is divided into units of 100 centavos, although coins in
denominations of less than 50 centavos are rarely used. Traveler's checks, dollars
and currencies can be readily exchanged in exchange houses, banks and major
hotels. Most automatic teller machines (ATM's) in major cities offer cash withdrawals
in Bolivianos and U.S. Dollars with many U.S. Bank or credit cards, including
those that operate on the "PLUS" or "Honor" networks. ATM's are nonexistent
outside major cities. It can be difficult for non-residents to cash personal
checks in Bolivia. The Boliviano is freely convertible for all transactions;
the U.S. Dollar can also be used as legal tender in the country. As of mid-2001
the exchange rate was around 6.58 Bs per US$1.
Several money exchange houses legally operating in Bolivia offer prompt conversion
of several currencies at legal rates, in addition to providing transfers.
General Financing Availability
Credit is generally difficult to obtain in Bolivia without using unencumbered
local assets as collateral. Collateral requirements for all but the most valued
clients are very high. Interest rates are influenced by the Central Bank's certificate
of deposit rates, as well as by high administrative costs resulting from the
general operational inefficiency seen throughout the local banking system. Although
there are no formal restrictions on foreign companies borrowing through the
local financial system, few do because the small size of the Bolivian financial
system.
Available Export Financing and Insurance
International and bilateral financial institutions provide some credit lines
at lower-than-market interest rates. These lines are granted by the IADB, the
World Bank and the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) and are usually channeled
through the Central Bank for on lending via private Bolivian banks. OPIC and
EXIM also offer insurance and/or financing products to the private sector.
Project Financing
Interested parties should consult the IADB, IBRD and CAF. OPIC, EXIM and the
U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) can also be consulted.
List of Banks with Correspondent U.S. Banking Arrangements
The following banks have correspondent banking arrangements with U.S. Banks:
Banco de Credito de Bolivia
Banco de la Union
Banco Economico
Banco Industrial S.A. (BISA)
Banco Mercantil
Banco Nacional de Bolivia
Banco Santa Cruz
Citibank
Interested parties should consult ASOBAN, the local Association of Banks, for
the most up-to-date information on activities in this sector. The Commercial
Section of the U.S. Embassy in La Paz can provide a current listing of bank
officers, addresses phone and fax numbers.
Business Customs
Most members of Bolivia's private sector are experienced entrepreneurs with
ample direct exposure to U.S. and European business customs and procedures.
Visiting U.S. travelers will find that their Bolivian counterparts for the most
part are adept and sophisticated in their respective field of interest.
The local representative is a vital component in the successful operation of
foreign-based firms. A local representative is required by law in the case of
investment contracts, direct sales for major projects and all government agency
purchases.
Bolivia's small market requires that most agents represent more than one line
of merchandise with regard to product promotion and distribution. The amount
of effort given to promoting a particular product line is determined in part
by the interest and support expressed by the supplier, as well as by the agent's
ability and interest.
The importance of occasional personal visits from company representatives, as
well as prompt, responsive handling of communications, cannot be overstated,
given the key role played by local representatives. After a business relationship
has been established, local distributors and agents generally expect to receive
an offer to visit the foreign company's plant facilities and head offices in
order to become better acquainted with the company's personnel and its operating
techniques.
Although capitalization and privatization have placed most of the former government-owned
enterprises in private hands, Bolivia's economy still remains highly influenced
by decisions taken in the public sector. Businesses should be prepared to deal
with government officials and their at-times convoluted procedures. U.S. exporters
or shippers should adhere closely to the instructions of the Bolivian importer,
as well as to the instructions laid out in the "trade regulations" section of
this report, regarding shipment of goods in order to avoid difficulties and
customs fines.
Regretfully, business practices in Bolivia in both the governmental and local
business sectors can involve different sets of standards than are common in
the United States and some that might be illegal or unethical under U.S. law.
U.S. companies should exercise the utmost care and discretion in their business
dealings and come to the Embassy for advice on how to proceed if confronted
with corrupt practices.
Travel Advisory and Visas
Any foreigner wishing to work in Bolivia must first obtain a permit ("Carnet
Laboral")
from the Ministry of Labor. To obtain this permit, the foreigner must file an
application with the Ministry of Labor and have a passport with a valid visa.
Bolivia has three different non-immigrant visa categories:
Tourist Visa: A tourist visa is not required for U.S. citizens travelling
to Bolivia. However, travelers planning to stay in Bolivia for over 30 days
must obtain an extension from the National Immigration Service valid for an
additional 60 days, upon payment of a US$30 fee. This visa is also valid for
temporary business travel.
Temporary Residence Visa: A temporary residence visa is valid for up
to two years and may be obtained from the National Immigration Service for a
fee of US$161. To obtain a temporary residence visa the traveler must present
the following documents to the National Immigration Service: a valid passport
containing a specific-purpose visa (for any purpose other than tourism); a legal
petition addressed to the Director General of Immigration requesting temporary
residence; a work contract certified by the Ministry of Labor specifying the
duration of the contract; a certificate from the institution for which the person
is going to work (or for students, a certificate of studies); a police security
clearance issued by the Bolivian National Police; a legal address registered
with the National Police; a temporary residence request form; and a change of
visa request form (required even if this is a first time visa request).
Permanent Residence Permits: To obtain a permanent residence permit the
applicant must pay a fee of US$484 and present the following documents to the
Immigration Service: a valid passport containing a two-year temporary residence
visa; a legal petition addressed to the Director General of Immigration requesting
indefinite residence; a medical certificate issued by the National Institute
of Employment Health; a security clearance issued by Bolivian National Police;
a legal address registered with the Bolivian National Police; a birth certificate
legalized by a Bolivian Consulate; a police security clearance issued in the
country of origin and legalized by a Bolivian Consulate; an indefinite visa
request form; a change of visa request form; and a work contract certified by
the Ministry of Labor. The Bolivian Government reserves the right to accept
or deny the indefinite residence of foreigners in Bolivia.
Temporary and permanent resident visas cover principals, managers and trained-
and specially qualified-employees who are involved in the company's operations.
No special qualifications are required for entry into Bolivia. The individual
is not limited in the type of work that can be performed once a visa is granted.
There are no requirements on the amount of money invested to qualify for entry.
There are no specific restrictions on an investor wishing to live and work in
Bolivia once a visa is granted. The spouse and children of the visa holder are
entitled to enter the country with the visa holder provided their names are
included in the legal petition presented to the Director General of Immigration.
For additional information please contact:
Oscar Jordan Bacigalupo, Director
Servicio Nacional de Migracion
Ministerio de Gobierno, La Paz
Tel: 591-2/375672; Fax: 591-2/370615
Holidays
National Holidays
| New Year's Day | January 1 |
| Carnival | varies |
| Good Friday | varies |
| Labor Day | May 1 |
| Corpus Christi | varies |
| Independence Day | August 6 |
| All Saints Day | November 1 |
| Christmas Day | December 25 |
Departmental Holidays
| Oruro Day | February 10 |
| Tarija Day | April 15 |
| Sucre Day | May 25 |
| La Paz Day | July 16 |
| Cochabamba Day | September 14 |
| Santa Cruz Day | September 24 |
| Pando Day | September 24 |
| Potosi Day | November 10 |
| Beni Day | November 18 |
Business Infrastructure
Transportation is hindered by a lack of developed infrastructure. Bolivia has
53,153 Km of roads, of which only 2,933 Km are paved, 16,380 are gravel and
33,840 are dirt roads. There are paved roads from La Paz all the way to Desaguadero
(at the Peruvian border on Lake Titicaca), Arica (Chile), Cochabamba and Oruro.
Except for a crucial 30-Km stretch, the "new" road between Cochabamba and Santa
Cruz is also paved, a new paved road from Santa Cruz to Trinidad (580 kms),
will be inaugurated in August 2001. Other roads, including all overland links
to Argentina and Brazil, are often impassable or extremely slow from time to
time due to regularly occurring rain coupled with poor maintenance. For instance,
during the rainy season the 400-mile road from Santa Cruz to the Argentine border
can often take a week to travel.
The Bolivian national railroad system has a total of 3,651 Km of track, divided
into two non-connecting segments. The western segment is 2,274 Km long and serves
the Pacific ports of Arica and Antofagasta (Chile), as well as the lake port
of Guaqui and the major cities in the Altiplano and the Andean valleys. It connects
with the Argentinean rail system. The eastern segment is 1,377 Km long and links
Santa Cruz with Brazil and Argentina. Much of the rail system is in disrepair.
There are airline connections to other Latin American countries and to Miami
out of Santa Cruz. See also the "Infrastructure Section" for more information.
Utilities throughout the country are good, with reliable electric power in the
major cities. Residential current in La Paz is 110 and 220 volts, 50 cycles.
Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and most other cities operate on 220 volts, 50 cycles.
Water shortages may occur in the dry season in various parts of the country,
including La Paz and Cochabamba. Water is not potable by U.S. standards in any
Bolivian city, although the major cities have improved the quality of their
water supply systems in recent years. The long-term water supply situation in
Cochabamba, however, is in doubt following the cancellation in April 2000 of
a contract to fix that city's water problems.
Spanish is both the official language and the language of commerce in Bolivia.
Although Aymara and Quechua are also spoken extensively, Spanish is understood
in all but the most remote parts of Bolivia. English is also widely spoken among
business leaders and public officials, but most prefer to speak Spanish.
Office hours are the same throughout the year but vary somewhat from city to
city. In La Paz and Cochabamba office hours are generally from 9 a.m. to 12
noon and from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 or 7 p.m., except for government offices which
are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with no break at lunch time. In Santa Cruz the
tropical climate demands that work begins and ends earlier, beginning at 7 or
8 a.m. and ending about 4:30 p.m., with a two-hour lunch break in the middle
of the day. There is presently a move afoot both in the public and private sector
to shift to the "hora continua", in which the lunch break is reduced to one
hour, bringing the end of the day correspondingly earlier.
The altitude of La Paz's El Alto airport is 13,300 feet above sea level. The
altitude alone poses a serious risk of illness, hospitalization, and even death,
whether or not you have a medical condition that affects blood circulation or
breathing. Healthy individuals can have problems. It is a good idea to consult
a doctor before visiting. Recent arrivals are advised to limit their activities
and refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages until they acclimate, which can
take from hours to days.
To help prevent complications caused by the high altitude, some travelers to
La Paz take acetazolamide (diamox) 125 mg twice a day - starting two days before
traveling, on the day of the trip, and two to three days after arriving at high
altitude. This medication inhibits the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, has a slight
diuretic effect, and stimulates respiration. It is available only by prescription
in the U.S. Pregnant women and nursing mothers cannot take Diamox. If you have
a severe allergy to sulfa drugs, you may not be able to take Diamox.
Sanitary conditions throughout the country are such that it is advisable to
boil water at least 20 minutes or to consume only bottled water, refuse ice,
and treat fresh fruits and vegetables. Even the best restaurants in the major
cities may inadvertently serve tainted food. Americans also have been victims
of e-coli and typhoid. Hepatitis and rabies are common in Bolivia, although
with proper vaccinations both can usually be avoided. Malaria, leishmanioses,
and yellow fever are found in the jungles in Bolivia's northern and eastern
regions, and white leprosy and yellow fever are sometimes found in the Yungas
Region of La Paz.
National and international telephone services are available in La Paz and even
in rural towns, but cost much more than in neighboring countries. Direct dialing
is available throughout the country. Most business establishments have fax and
telex machines, with electronic mail becoming increasingly popular. The Internet
has been operational in Bolivia since 1996.
Taxi fares from the El Alto Airport to La Paz generally run 60 Bs. Within the
city, fares average between 6 and 12 Bs, depending on the length of the trip,
with small additional charges for extra passengers and for travel after 10 p.m.
Rental cars are also available but are expensive; some companies oblige you
to hire a driver as well. U.S. drivers licenses are valid in Bolivia for 90
days after arrival.
All of Bolivia experiences a rainy season during the summer months (December-March).
In La Paz the average daytime temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit for most
of the year, with temperatures dropping quite a bit after darkness falls. Santa
Cruz is a tropical city, generally hot and humid, while Cochabamba has a climate
similar to and slightly warmer than that of La Paz.
There are several good, comfortable hotels in La Paz, where single rooms range
between US$35 and US$120 a night, including taxes. The better hotels include
the Radisson Plaza, the Hotel Plaza, the Hotel Presidente and the Europa, as
well as such apartment/hotels as the Ritz Apart-Hotel and the Camino Real Apart-Hotel.
There are several good hotels in Santa Cruz (including Los Tajibos, Camino Real,
Buganbilas, Yotau and La Quinta) and in Cochabamba (Hotel Portales, Gran Hotel
Cochabamba and Aranjuez).
10. ECONOMIC AND TRADE STATISTICS
Appendix A - Country Data
Population (a): 1999 8,137,113
2000 8,328,700
2001 8,495,274
2005 9,231,671
Population Growth Rate 1998-2002 (a): 2.01%.
Distribution: Roughly 59.5% of the population lives in urban areas.
Religion: Catholicism is the dominant religion; freedom of religion exists.
Government System: Representative democracy. Executive, legislative and judicial
branches are separate. The President is elected every five years; the upper
and lower houses of the bicameral Congress are elected every five years; the
judiciary is appointed by executive branch, with Supreme Court judges appointed
for ten years.
Languages: Spanish (official), Aymara, Quechua and other native tongues.
Business Week: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-12 noon, 2:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
See "Business Customs" above for more detailed information.
Source: (a) National Institute of Statistics (INE).
Appendix B - Domestic Economy 1999 2000 2001
| GDP (US$ million) | 8326 | 8457 | 8660 |
| GDP growth (%) | 0.6 | 2.37 | 1.5 |
| GDP per capita (US$) | 1023 | 1015 | 1019 |
| Government spending as pct of GDP | 31.6 | 32.7 | 28.5 |
| Inflation (consumer prices; pct) | 3.13 | 3.41 | 4.0 |
| Unemployment rate (b) | 8.0 | 7.6 | NA |
| Public sector external debt (US$ billion) | 5.2 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| Debt service/exports ratio (c) | 14.3 | 13.0 | 14.0 |
| Debt service/GDP ratio | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.8 |
| U.S. assistance to Bolivia (US$ million) | 124.7 | 205 | NA |
Notes: (b) based on surveys of urban areas; data does not consider underemployment.
(c) Effective Services includes Foreign Exchange adjustments and Debt Relief.
Sources: National Institute of Statistics (INE); Central Bank of Bolivia; U.S.
Embassy, La Paz.
Appendix C - Trade
| (in US$ million) | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
| Bolivian exports FOB | 1138.9 | 1327.8 | 1302.0 |
| Bolivian imports CIF | 1539.1 | 1610.2 | 1856.5 |
| Exports to U.S. | 464.7 | 349.3 | NA |
| Imports from U.S. | 437.9 | 430.5 | NA |
Source: Central Bank of Bolivia and INE.
Appendix D - Investment Statistics
| (in US$ million) | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
Foreign Investment (US$ million) |
1016 | 750 | 780 |
| Foreign Investment (as %GDP) | 12.2 | 8.9 | 9.0 |
| U.S Foreign Investment * | 319 | 337 | NA |
Source: Central Bank of Bolivia. Figures for 2000 are estimates.
Appendix E - Reports on Commercial and Economic Conditions in Bolivia
Below is a current list of selected reports available from various sources:
Reports of the Department of Commerce and those of the Department of State are
generally available through the U.S. Government Printing Office (Tel: 202/783-3238)
unless otherwise indicated. The reports are also available on the National Trade
Data Bank (NTDB, Tel: 202/377-1986) which may be accessed at most local or university
libraries. In addition, there are a number of valuable reference works and periodicals,
the most important of which are listed below. The best way to obtain guidance
on using these information resources is to contact the Bolivia Desk Officer,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington D.C. 20230, Tel: (202) 482-0428.
Department of Commerce Publications:
U.S. Exports/World Areas by Schedule & Commodity Grouping Report, Ft 455;
annual
Agricultural Outlook Report
Industrial Outlook Report: Minerals; annual
Industrial Outlook Report: Petroleum; annual
Financing Guide and the Guidebook to the Andean Trade Preference Act (both available
free of charge from the Latin America/Caribbean Business Development Center,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Tel: 202/377-0703, 202/377-0841)
U.S. Department of State Publications:
Background Notes: Bolivia, available periodically from the Department of State,
Office of Public Communications, Bureau of Public Affairs, Washington D.C.20520.
Background Notes provides political and other background information on Bolivia.
(Annual subscriptions to the Background Notes series may be purchased by contacting
the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington D.C.
20402.)
Area Handbook for Bolivia; periodic
The Commercial Section of the U.S. Embassy in La Paz (Tel: (591-2) 2430251; Fax:
(591-2) 2433710) can provide a list of publications related to Bolivia, including
those published in Bolivia.
Ministry of Foreign Relations and Worship
Lic. Gustavo Fernandez Saavedra
Minister
Plaza Murillo esq. Ingavi
Tel.: (591-2) 408293, 336169
Fax: (591-2) 336169
Lic. Ana Maria Solares
Vice Ministro for International Economic Relaciones
Plaza Murillo, Calle Infavi esq. Junin
Tel: (591-2) 408067; Fax: (591-2) 408067
Ministry of Government
Sr. Leopoldo Fernandez Ferreira
Minister
Av. Arce esq. Belisario Salinas
Tel: (591-2) 440213 440114
Fax: (591-2) 442589
Ministry of National Defense
Lic. Oscar Guilarte Lujan
Minister
Plaza Abaroa
Tel: (591-2) 2431364 2431183
Fax (591-2) 2433159
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights
Sr. Mario Serrate Ruiz
Minister
Edif. Ministerio de Justicia -El Prado
Tel: (591-2) 356781 392982
Fax: (591-2) 392982
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Sr. Walter Nuñez Rodriguez
Minister
Av. Camacho, 1471 - Piso 2
Tel: (591-2) 203980 367968
Fax: (591-2) 313601
Ministry of Finance
Lic. Jack Trigo Loubiere
Minister
Palacio de Comunicaciones Piso 19
Tel: (591-2) 392220, 392779
Fax: (591-2) 359955
Dra. Amparo Ballivian
President, National Customs Service
Calle Potosi, 940
Tel: (591-2) 406463 407612
Fax: (591-2) 406340
Ministry of Economic Development
Sr. Carlos Kempff Bruno
Minister
Palacio de Comunicaciones, Piso 20
Tel: (591-2) 356741 375000
Fax: (591-2) 360534
Lic. Carlos Alberto Contreras del Solar
Vice Minister for Energy & Hydrocarbons
Palacio de Comunicaciones, Piso 12
Tel: (591-2) 391354; Fax: (591-2) 392758
Ing. Epifanio Mamani Alizares
Vice Minister for Mines & Metallurgy
Palacio de Comunicaciones, Piso 14
Tel: (591-2) 371184, 374124
Fax: (591-2) 391241
Ing. Mauricio Navarro
Vice Minister for Transportation, Telecommunications & Civil Aviation
Palacio de Comunicaciones, Piso 15
Tel: (591-2) 318290 377238
Fax: (591-2) 371395
Ing. Daniel Vega de la Torre
Vice Minister for Industry & Commerce
Av. Camacho, esq. Bueno,1488, Piso 1
Tel: (591-2) 372041, 372542; Fax: (591-2) 358831
Dr. Ramiro Aguilera N.
Acting Director
National Intellectual Property Service
Vice Ministry for Industry & Commerce
Av. Camacho ,1488, esq. Bueno, Piso 3
Tel: (591-2) 372047 364602; Fax: (591-2) 372047
Ministry of Governmental Information
Sr. Mauro Berteto G.
Av. Camacho Edif. La Urbana Piso 6
Casilla 900
Tel(591-2) 339027 376352
Fax(591-2) 391607
Lic. Hernan Terrazas Ergueta
Vice Minister for Governmental Information
Av. Camacho Edif. :La Urbana Piso 6
Casilla 900
Tel(591-2)376353; Fax(591-2)392291
Please contact the Commercial Library of the U.S. Embassy in La Paz for a complete
list of all ranking
officials. All phone/fax numbers use country and city code for La Paz (591-2)
unless otherwise noted. All
addresses are in La Paz unless otherwise noted; "Casilla" means P.O. Box.
Other Important Contacts
Empresa Nacional de Television Boliviana
(Bolivian National Television Company)
Sr. Mariano Baptista, General Manager
Av.Camacho Edif. La Urbana Piso 6,
Casilla 900
Tel: (591-2) 203404; Fax: (591-2) 203414/15
Banco Central de Bolivia
(Central Bank of Bolivia)
Dr Juan Antonio Morales Anaya,President
Ayacucho esq. Mercado, Casilla 3118
Tel: (591-2) 409090
Fax: (591-2) 406598
Country Trade Associations/Chambers of Commerce
Camara Americana de Comercio de Bolivia
American Chamber of Commerce of Bolivia (AMCHAM)
Ana Maria Galindo de Paz, General Manager
Av. 6 de Agosto, Edif. Hilda Piso 2; Casilla 8268
Tel: (591-2) 24439939
Fax: (591-2) 2443972
Confederacion de Empresarios Privados de Bolivia
(Confederation of Private Entrepreneurs)
Lic. Carlos Calvo, President
Calle Mendez Arcos 117, Casilla 4329
Tel.: (591-2) 420999; Fax: (591-2) 421272
Camara Nacional de Comercio
(National Chamber of Commerce)
Guillermo Morales, President
Av. Mariscal Santa Cruz Edif. Camara Nacional de Comercio, Casilla 7
Tel.: (591-2 378606; Fax: (591-2 391004
Camara Nacional de Indusria
(National Chamber of Industry)
Ing. Roberto Mustafá, President
Av. Mariscal Santa Cruz 1392, Piso 14, Casilla 611
Tel: (591-2) 374476; Fax: (591-2) 362766
Camara Boliviana de la Construcción
(Bolivian Chamber of Construction Companies)
Ing. Roberto Torres Ponce de Leon, President
Av 20 deOoctubre,1948 Edif. Terranova, Casilla 3215
Tel: (591-2) 370981; Fax: (591-2) 08117530
Camara Nacional de Mineria
(National Chamber of Small Mining Firms)
Ing. Saturdino Ramos, President
Av. Villazon Pasaje Bernardo Trigo, 429
Casilla 2022
Tel: (591-2) 441552; Fax: (591-2) 441651
Asociación Nacional de Mineros Medianos
(National Assoc. of Medium-sized Mining Firms)
Dr. Oscar Bonifaz, President
Calle Pedro Salazar, 600, Casilla 6190
Tel: (591-2) 412232; Fax: (591-2) 414123
Camara Agropecuaria del Oriente (CAO)
(Eastern Agricultural Chamber)
Lic. Alvaro Guzman Bowles, General Manager
Casilla 116, Santa Cruz
Tel: (591-3) 522200; Fax: (591-3) 522621
Asociación de Bancos Privados de Bolivia
(Bolivian Private Bankers Association (ASOBAN)
Lic. Carlos Iturralde, Executive Secretary
Casilla 5822
Tel: (591-2) 334794; Fax: (591-2) 391093
Asociación Nacional de Industriales Textiles
(National Association of Textile Firms)
Javier Asbun, President
Casilla 984
Tel: (591-2) 406523; Fax: (591-2) 406523
Country Market Research Firms
All market research and consulting companies are required to register with:
National Association of Consulting Companies
Edificio Maria Cecilia Mezanine Of. 1, Casilla 8560
Ing. Fernando de la Barra, President
Tel: (591-2) 2443819; Fax: (591-2) 2444266
Commercial Banks
Banco de Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Junin 154,Casilla 865
Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Tel: (591-3) 369911; Fax: (591-3) 350114
Banco Mercantil S. A.
Calle Ayacucho esq. Mercado, 277
Casilla 423
La Paz, Bolivia
Tel: (591-2) 310170; Fax: (591-2) 311324
Banco Nacional de Bolivia
Av. Camacho, esq. Colon; Casilla 360
La Paz, Bolivia
Tel: (591-2) 331418; Fax: (591-2) 334895
Banco Ganadero
24 de Septiembre, 110
Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Tel: (591-3) 314063; Fax: (591-3) 314963
Banco Industrial (BISA)
Av. 16 de Julio, 1628
La Paz, Bolivia
Tel: (591-2) 365625; Fax: (591-2) 390033
Banco de Credito
Calle Colon, 1308; Casilla 907
La Paz, Bolivia
Tel: (591-2) 391722; Fax: (591-2) 332203
Citibank S.A.
Av. Ballivian - Torres Ketal; Casilla 260
La Paz, Bolivia
Tel: (591-2) 790066; Fax: (591-2) 790011
Banco Económico
Ayacucho 166
Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Tel: (591-3) 361179 ;Fax: (591-3) 327408
Banco Union
Av. Camacho 1416
La Paz, Bolivia
Tel: (591-2) 312777; Fax: (591-2) 312777
Banco Do Brasil
Av. 16 de Julio 1642
La Paz, Bolivia
Tel:(591-2) 310909;Fax: (591-2) 311788
Banco Sol S.A.
Nicolas Acosta 289
La Paz, Bolivia
Tel: 591-2) 486702; Fax: (591-2) 486533
Multilateral Development Banks
World Bank (IBRD)
John Newmann, Representative, BISA Building, Piso 9
Tel: (591-2) 356844; Fax: (591-2) 391038
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
Phillip Dewz, Representative
BISA Building, El Prado, Piso 5
Tel: (591-2) 351221; Fax: (591-2) 391089
Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF)
(The Andean Development Corporation)
Jose Vicente Maldonado, Representative
Edif .Multicentro - Torre B, Piso 9
Tel: (591-2) 2443333; Fax: (591-2) 2433049
U.S. Embassy Trade Personnel
Incumbent
V. Manuel Rocha
Ambassador
Patrick D. Duddy
Deputy Chief of Mission
David C. Wolfe
Political/Economic Counselor and
Commercial Attaché
wolfedc@state.gov
Mark A. Wells
Economic/Commercial Officer
wellsma@state.gov
Ramiro Alborta
FSN-Senior Economic Specialist
albortar@state.gov
Tabbie Saenz
FSN-Commercial Specialist
saenztc@state.gov
Luisa San Martin
FSN-Commercial Secretary
sanmartinlm@state.gov
Washington-Based U.S. Government Contacts
Trade Information Center
U.S. Department of Commerce
Tel.: ( 800/USA-TRADE
Email: tic@ita.doc.gov
Bolivia Desk Officer
U.S. Department of Commerce
Tel: 202/482-0428; Fax: 202/482-0464
Email: Julie_Anglin@ita.doc.gov
Office of the Coordinator for Business Affairs
U.S. Department of Commerce
Tel: 202/746-1625; Fax: 202/647-3953
Bolivia Desk Officer
U.S. Department of State
Tel: 202/647-4193/-3360; Fax: 202/647-2628
Email: rogantg@state.gov
Trade Assistance and Promotion Office
Foreign Agricultural Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Tel: 202/720-7420; Fax: 202/205-9728
Website: www.fas.US$a.gov
Bolivian Government Representation in the United States
Embassy of Bolivia
3014 Massachusetts Ave .NW
Washington, D. C. 20008
Tel: 202/483-4410; Fax: 202/328-3712
Email: bolembus@erols.com
Website: www.bolivia.usa.org
Consulates General
Washington, D.C.
1819 "H" St., Suite 240 NW
Washington, D.C. 20006
Tel: 202/232-4828; Fax: 202/328-8017
E-mail: bolivianconsulatewdc@starpower.net
9100 S. Dadeland Blvd, Suite 406
Miami, FL 33156
Tel: 305/670-0709; Fax: 305/670-2548
E-mail: cbolivia@nettrunner.net
211 East 43rd St Room 702
New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212/687-0530/31; Fax: 212/687-0532
870 Market St., Room 575
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel: 415/495-5173; Fax: 415/399-8958
E-mail: cbolivia@aol.com
Honorary Consuls
Ricardo Antezana
15215 - 52nd. Ave. South
Park Ridge Bldg, Suite 100
Seattle, WA 98188
Tel: 206/244-6696; Fax: 206/244-3795
David C. Mitchell
5500 Napleridge Dr.
Cincinnati, OH 45227
Tel: 513/271-5381; Fax: 513/271-8189
Jaime R. Escobar Claros
1111 W. Superior St., Suite 3009
Melrose Park, Ill 60160
Tel: 708/343-1234; Fax: 708/681-4290
Diana Galindo de Walker
800 W San Houston Parkway, S
Suite 103
Houston, TX 77042
Tel: 713/977-2344; Fax: 713/977-2242
E-mail: coboltex@wt.net
Website: web.wt.net/-coboltex/Welcomo.com
Gloria Steine
20550 Hackamore Rd.
Hamel, MN 55340
Tel: 763/478-9495; Fax: 763/478-6631
E-mail: glsteine@aol.com
Russell David Leblanc
85 Devenshire St., Suite 1000
Boston, MA 02109
Tel: 617/742-1500; Fax: 617/742-9130
E-mal: L and L@SHORE.NET
S. George Handelsman
1375 Peachtree St., NE, Suite 180
Atlanta, GA 30309
Tel: 404/522-0777; Fax: 404/873-3355
Thomas J. Purvis
3413 Canacee Dr.
Mobile, AL 36693
Tel.: 334/666-6969; Fax: 334/660-9394
E-mail: tpurvis@zebra.net
Maria Urioste Hensley
1881 Sylvan Av., Suite 110
Dallas, TX 75208
Tel: 214/571-6131; Fax: 214/651-9514
Joe R. Simon
210 Park Ave, Suite 1600
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Tel: 405/239-5789; Fax: 405/604-5889
E-mail: jsimo@teppco.com
Hugh Alanson Andrews
Calle Lucchetti 1409
Condado, San Juan 00907
P.O.Box 6838
Puerto Rico
Tel: 787/722-5449; Fax: 787/723-8657
Bolivian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida
Roberto Cozzi, President
7136 SW 47th Street
Miami, FL 33155
Tel: 305/663-8821; Fax: 305/663-9560
Email: ardeprint@man.com
Computers and Peripherals Sector, April 1995
Telecommunications Industry Sub-Sector Analysis, July 1999
Environmental Legislation, June 1997
Environmental Monitoring and Pollution Control Equipment, June 1997.
Power Generation Sector, August, 1999.
"Expocruz" - Santa Cruz International Trade Fair - September 20 - 30, 2001
" Growth Industries Catalog Exhibition" - La Paz, October 18-19, 2001