Information related to political affairs that have an impact on Bolivia’s economic development.
The National Revenue Service cancelled the implementation of the Electronic Invoicing System (EIS), after conducting a technical analysis that took into account the current economic situation of the country, which is aggravated by the Covid-19 health emergency, which prevents the healthy development of taxpayers’ activities.
Bolivia declared a national health emergency and extended its border lockdown on Wednesday, as the government seeks to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The border closure was extended to April 15 from March 31 previously. Bolivia has 38 confirmed cases of coronavirus, according to government data.
The Government is working to ensure that exports of Bolivian royal quinoa to the United States and European markets are made under the designation of origin because of the unique nutritional characteristics and size of the grain, which is only produced in Bolivia.
The construction project of the Tacachira Wastewater Treatment Plant, in the 7th district of El Alto, will have an investment of Bs. 103.1 million ($14.8 mn), of which CAF finances bs 78.9 million ($11.37 mn), the participation of the Municipal Government of El Alto will be of Bs 23 million ($3.3 mn), and the state water company EPSAS will contribute Bs1.2 million ($172,414).
Through Supreme Decree 4164 of February 27, 2020, the Government decided to lower the minimum portfolio levels that multiple banks must maintain for productive and social interest housing loans, from 60% to 50% of their loans and ordered SME banks to lower to 40% the minimum portfolio for loans to small, medium and micro-enterprises.
The Bolivian Port Services Administration (ASP-B) reported Thursday that a new Bolivian shipment of 10,679 tons of construction material arrived at the Peruvian port of Ilo in recent days onboard the ship Navios Soleil. It is the first shipment scheduled for this year. Bolivia plans to mobilize more than 100,000 tons of cargo through the port of Ilo, to consolidate this maritime terminal as a real alternative to Bolivian foreign trade.
The Minister of Public Works, Iván Arias Durán, announced the creation of a Metropolitan Basin Authority to monitor the 16 rivers in Cochabamba and prevent natural disasters like the one in Tiquipaya that damaged 70 houses.
A $50 million trust has been created to support the forestry sector in Bolivia. The Government and the Bolivian Forestry Chamber (CFB) signed a cooperation agreement to allow the forestry sector to access international markets. The project contemplates $12 million for international customers of timber producers, under the modality of credit, with low interest during the next five years.
Bolivia’s Nuclear Energy Agency (ABEN), halted the construction of the Nuclear Development Research Center of El Alto, until the Legislative Assembly and the Office of the Attorney General, which have initiated audits of the project, are committed about it. Bolivia has already paid $351 million for the project. Russia’s Rusatom Overseas is in charge of the project.
The Government set for this year, a contribution of between 2% and 4% of the profits of the financial institutions to the Guarantee Funds for productive loans and social housing. Within this framework, these funds already have $US 427 million. By 2020, commercial banks will contribute with 2% of their 2019 profits and SMBs banks will contribute with 4%.
