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Economy - overview:
Bolivia, long one of the poorest and least developed Latin American countries, reformed its economy after suffering a disastrous economic crisis in the early 1980s. The reforms spurred real GDP growth, which averaged 4 percent in the 1990s, and poverty rates fell. Economic growth, however, lagged again beginning in 1999 because of a global slowdown and homegrown factors such as political turmoil, civil unrest, and soaring fiscal deficits, all of which hurt investor confidence. In 2003, violent protests against the pro-foreign investment economic policies of President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA led to his resignation and the cancellation of plans to export Bolivia's newly discovered natural gas reserves to large northern hemisphere markets. Foreign investment dried up as companies adopted a wait-and-see attitude regarding new President Carlos MESA's willingness to protect investor rights in the face of increased demands by radical groups that the government expropriate foreign-owned assets. Real GDP growth in 2003-05 - helped by increased demand for natural gas in neighboring Brazil - was positive, but still below the levels seen during the 1990s. Bolivia remains dependent on foreign aid from multilateral lenders and foreign governments. |
Trade Fairs,
Exhibitions, Conferences: |
Fexpocruz - Santa Cruz Bolivia
The Exhibition Fair of Santa Cruz was created in 1962 for academic purposes. Thanks to the constant support of entrepreneurs from the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services - CAINCO and the Agricultural Chamber – CAO, the fair has grown considerably, increasing yearly its number of visitors. FEXPOCRUZ is considered the first and most important business center in Bolivia. It is recognized internationally, and presents fairs like:
AGROPECRUZ (International Farming Fair),
ECOCRUZ (International Fair of Sustainable Development),
CONSTRUCRUZ (International Fair of Construction, Furniture and Decoration), INFOCRUZ (International Fair of Computer science and Telecommunications), and EXPOCRUZ (International Fair of Santa Cruz). |
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