Republic of Bolivia Republica de Bolivia Capital: La Paz, Sucre ~ Babawande Afolabi

The Bolivian Basics…  Government: Republic (Democracy)  President: Juan Evo Morales Ayma, Alvaro Garcia Linera (VP)  Currency: Boliviano (BOB)  Natural Resources: Tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, antimony, silver, iron  Exports: Natural gas, Soybeans and soy products, zinc ore, tin  Partners-in-exports: Brazil 44.2%, US 12.5%, Argentina 10.9%, Colombia 7.8%, Peru 4.8%  Imports: Petroleum products, plastics, paper, aircraft and aircraft parts  Import Partners: Brazil 21.9%, Argentina 16.7%, US 13.8%, Chile 6.9%, Peru 6.5%, Japan 6.1%, China 5.8%

The Bolivian Geography/Demography  Area: 1,098,580 sq km  Population: 9,119,152  Population Density: 8.3/km 2  Population Growth Rate: 1.42%  Net Migration Rate: migrants/1000 population  Life Expectancy: years (total population), years (Male), years (Female)  Ethnic Groups: Quechua 30%, Mestizo 30%, Aymara 25%, white 15%  Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%  Language: Spanish, Quechua & Aymara

The Bolivian Economy…  GDP (PPP): $27.21 billion  GDP (Official exchange rate): $10.22 billion  GDP (per capita; PPP): $3,000  GDP (Real growth rate): 3.3%  GDP composition: Agriculture 12.8%, Industry 36.1%, Services 51.2%  Inflation rate: 4.3%  Unemployment rate: 7.8%  Government Budget: $4.153 billion (Revenue), $3.619 billion (Expenditure)  Current Account Balance: $688million  Public Debt: 21.7% of GDP

Regional Free Trade Areas…  Major Trading Partners – Brazil, US, Venezuela, Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, China, Japan  Bolivia and the International Trade Center (ITC) partnership  The Andean Group  Mercosur  Possibility of a merger like the EU

Bolivia’s External Relations…  Bolivia has a smooth relationship with the United States  The fight for the Atacama corridor (Bolivia VS Chile)

Bolivia’s Fiscal Policy  Bolivia has been running a budget deficit for the past five years Year * Budget Balance (% of GDP) -7.9%-5.5%-2.1%-2.3%-2.8% * Estimated

Monetary and exchange rate policy  Banco de Bolivia and nine private banks  Foreign participation and investment are allowed in Bolivian banks  About 90% of Bolivian bank deposits are held in US dollars

Bolivia’s Social Policy…  Social Security privatized  Availability of social welfare for the disabled and pregnant women  Limited funds for the unemployed, underemployed and families in need  A huge divide between the rural and urban regions  There is also a gender divide  Seven year educational reform

References  Bolivia: History, Geography and Government (2006). Retrieved 5/15, 2007 from  Bolivia: International Trade (2007). Retrieved 5/15, 2007 from  CIA world factbook: Bolivia. (2007), from factbook/geos/bl.html factbook/geos/bl.html  Country Profile: Bolivia (2006). Retrieved 5/15, 2007, from  Country Reports: Bolivia (2007). Retrieved 5/15, 2007 from Name=Bolivia Name=Bolivia  Mercosur Trade Center (2007). Retrieved 5/15, 2007 from