Fitch: Latin America political, social risks could delay recovery, pressuring bank operating environments

Volatility caused by ongoing political and social unrest, as well as policy uncertainty, could delay the economic recovery. It could also delay the stabilization of LatAm banking systems’ Operating Environment (OE) scores, which capture the risk of doing banking business in a country or jurisdiction. In Fitch Ratings’ opinion, the OEs of Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua and, to a lesser extent, Peru face more downside risks.

Natura Bolivia, Selfless by Hyram join forces to protect Amazon region

Fundación Natura Bolivia, the indigenous people of the Bajo Paragua forest, and Selfless by Hyram have joined forces to hold the line on deforestation in the Amazon, announcing the creation of the 2.05-million-acre Bajo Paragua San Ignacio and Concepcion Municipal Protected Areas. With support from the partnership, the communities will manage the new protected areas which are also home to spider monkeys, jaguars and at least 1,273 vertebrate species. Conservation of the forest permanently locks up 337,162,504 metric tons of carbon dioxide which would otherwise contribute to climate change.

Exports: use of the waterway will lower transportation costs by 18% and save 12 days

Export cargo transportation through the Ichilo-Mamoré waterway, which has access to the Atlantic Ocean, will cost approximately 18 per cent less than the operation carried out by land to Pacific ports. The reduction in transportation costs is because the waterway wi

Lithium: China seeks to participate in the industrialization

The Chinese ambassador in Bolivia informed that his country intends to resume negotiations with Bolivia to share technology to benefit Bolivian lithium industrialization. On April 30, the Government launched an international call for the direct extraction of lithium.

Bolivia to receive one million J&J doses for 14% of the population

In Geneva, the Covax office confirmed the shipment of 1,008,000 Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccines to Bolivia, which will immunize 14% of people over 18 years of age in the country. The doses will arrive in the first days of July, informed the Government. The inoculants are 93% effective against hospitalization, according to a World …

IMF concludes consultation with Bolivia and recommends reducing hydrocarbon sector subsidies

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV Consultation with Bolivia, with recommendations aimed at implementing structural reforms to promote domestic private investment and foreign direct investment. The most striking of these is the reduction of subsidies to state-owned companies in the hydrocarbons sector.

Quinoa exports fall by 30%

Bolivia produces 63,000 tons of quinoa per year, of which 32,000 tons, or less than 50%, are exported. There is a notable drop in exports due to the increase in production of the grain in countries such as the United States, China, Spain, and France, which are close to covering their domestic demand. Between January and May 2021, exports dropped 30%, reaching $25 million, less than last year when the country received $36 million.

The government highlights gas exports, but revenues fall 3.5%

Last week, Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB) and the government highlighted increased gas exports from increased shipments to Argentina. However, revenues from natural gas sales fell by 3.5 per cent between April and May 2021 compared to a similar period in 2020.

$70 million budget planned to reactivate the Ichilo-Mamoré waterway

According to government projections, the reactivation of the Ichilo-Mamoré waterway will require a budget of over $70 million and foresees starting work in July of this year.

Bolivia increases potential cocaine production by 44%, according to a U.S. report

Potential cocaine production in Bolivia grew by 44% in the 2010-2020 period, according to a report by the US Office of National Drug Control Policy (Ondcp). Coca cultivation in Bolivia totalled 39,400 hectares in 2020, a slight decrease of about 7% from 2019, but still close to record levels. Potential cocaine production remained stable at …