Agreement to improve corporate competitiveness

The Bolivian government and the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) signed a $2-million agreement to improve corporate competitiveness. The project will be executed by the Office of the Vice Minister of Industry, Commerce and Exports, and the Productivity and Competitiveness Unit (UPC).

The signing ceremony was attended by Finance Minister Javier Cuevas; Industry, Commerce and Export Vice Minister Ana María Solares; CAF Executive President Enrique García; and director of the Productivity and Competitiveness Unit Nicolás Peña.

García said that this initiative reinforces the implementation of the productive agreements between government, the private sector and other key actors, aimed at eliminating the obstacles to the competitiveness of the productive chains. The initiative also strengthens the national productivity and competitiveness system with the objective of stimulating market penetration, investment promotion, and quality certification, among others.

The program to improve corporate competitiveness has six specific activities: 1) support and follow-up for productive pacts; 2) organization of a system of competitiveness indicators; 3) restructuring of export promotion systems; 4) creation and strengthening of a productive development network; 5) support for development of company incubation and pre-incubation systems and; 6) setting up an office to assist local companies that participate in state procurement. The promoters are confident that all these initiatives will have a positive impact on the competitiveness of Bolivian companies.

The agreement is part of the Competitive Support Program for Productive and Financial Sectors for which the CAF approved a $75-million global loan in the last four-month period of 2003. The purpose is to reactivate companies in the productive sector through capital and financial strengthening; actions to improve their environment and competitive profile; support for the government in restructuring viable productive units that are experiencing financial difficulties; and development of a more dynamic, efficient and competitive export sector.