Road project to improve productivity in Potosi area

(La Paz, March 28, 2012).- With the completion and opening of the Cotagaita-Tupiza-Villazón highway financed by CAF –development bank of Latin America– more than 60,000 residents in Potosi’s southwestern municipalities now have a paved route that will facilitate access to several towns, as well as the transportation of agricultural products, and will help develop tourism in the area.

The 169-kilometer (105 miles) road is made up of two stretches: Cotagaita-Tupiza and Tupiza-Villazón. In addition to linking these districts, the road will connect Potosi province to Argentina, thus contributing to trade, regional integration and tourism, as well as to improve productivity and quality of life for local residents’.

In order to complement this work and help improve services in the region, CAF supports the execution of three parallel projects included in the road’s financing: building a hostel in Santiago de Cotagaita; the renovation of Tupiza’s wastewater treatment plant; and a garbage collection system in Villazón, which will be completed in the coming months.

Economic activity in southwest Potosi

Agriculture (potato, wheat, malt, corn and beans), cattle breeding (sheep, cows, llamas and goats), mining (lead, zinc, silver and tin) as well as tourism are the main activities in the towns along the new roadway.

Santiago de Cotagaita’s economy is based on agricultural and cattle production, albeit on a small scale. Its residents complement these activities with crafts and wool knit goods, and some peach and grape production that they sell in Tupiza and Potosi.

For its part Tupiza, located in an agricultural valley, besides being an important mining center has major touristic attractions including the Valle de los Machos, with petroglyphs, gorges and rocks with curious shapes in the surrounding mountains.

Villazón is near the border with the Argentine district of La Quiaca, with which it has major trade links.