Agreements with the Bolivian private sector

The Andean Development Corporation signed agreements with institutions in the Bolivian private sector for an important set of programs that include governance, competitiveness and training of human capital. The CAF works with the public sector and with the private sector, which has an enormous potential contribution to make to the country.

CAF Executive President Enrique García said that this set of issues was part of the new development agenda that the Corporation is promoting in the Andean region, which emphasizes sustainable, equitable and integrated development, human and social capital, and social participation.

This series of agreements demonstrates the wide range of activities that the CAF is backing in the region. Although the Andean institution finances major infrastructure, integration and service projects, it has also entered other equally important areas with programs related to institutional development, strengthening of democracy, creation of new economic opportunities for marginal sectors, and empowering human social resources.

The first agreement with the Santa Cruz Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CAINACO) covers a program to identify the factors that have most impact on the cost of doing business in Bolivia and formulate specific actions to reduce them and facilitate private activity. Business productivity in the country is reduced by factors such as the level of adoption of technology, absence of business strategies, labor regulations, excessive paperwork, deficient road infrastructure and basic services, the tax system and legal uncertainty.

The objective of the second agreement, signed with the Cochabamba Business Federation, is to support the holding of the seminar "Challenges of the Constituent Assembly for Bolivia." The Assembly will be an outstanding opportunity for the taking of decisions of great importance for Bolivia’s future; all sectors need to reflect on their contribution and make recommendations.

Another operation was signed with the La Paz Journalists Association for the holding of the "First National Journalism Seminar" which will analyze the state of national journalism and plan its response to the challenges for strengthening democracy. The event was programmed in the framework of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the professional association. The seminar will be a reflection on journalism in Bolivia and identify the priorities for the practice of serious and responsible journalism.

Lastly, in the framework of the Andean Education Agenda, an agreement was signed to support the National Education Congress. In alliance with La Prensa newspaper, the CAF is promoting the Bolivian chapter of the Andean Education Agenda whose objective is to stimulate a wide-ranging debate in Bolivian society on education issues which can be used as input for designing sectoral policy.