Who are the most influential Bolivians, according to Bloomberg Línea?

 Businessmen Marcelo Claure, Mario Anglarill Salvatierra, and Samuel Doria Medina stand out. The criteria considered include the ability to generate employment, investments that drive significant economic activities, and influence in diverse sectors.

Bolivian businessmen Marcelo Claure, Mario Anglarill Salvatierra, and Samuel Doria Medina stand out in Bloomberg Línea’s 2024 Ranking of the 500 Most Influential People in Latin America. With vast natural wealth and notable human talent, the selected leaders represent a clear example of how to harness the immense potential of the country.

Marcelo Claure is an investor and businessman, CEO, and founder of Claure Group, a global investment holding with approximately $4 billion under management in various sectors of the economy, such as technology, artificial intelligence, energy transition, lifestyle, and entertainment. Additionally, he owns Club Bolívar in Bolivia and co-owns Girona FC, a Spanish first-division soccer team. His career as an executive has numerous milestones: Claure founded Brightstar and turned it into the world’s largest wireless distribution and services company. In 2014, he sold Brightstar to SoftBank Group. He also led multinational companies like WeWork and SoftBank, among others.

Also on the list is Mario Anglarill Salvatierra, who, in 1976, along with his wife Maida, founded Sofía, a leading poultry company in the Bolivian market. Nearly five decades later, he still leads the company as the Chairman of the Board and works alongside his five children. Sofía has a team of more than 2,700 employees and generates approximately 27,000 indirect jobs nationwide. The Corporate Reputation Business Monitor (Merco), which evaluates the performance of companies and their leaders in 11 countries, publishes a list of the 100 best leaders in Bolivia each year: Anglarill Salvatierra was ranked number one in the Bolivian ranking on three occasions.

One of the investors who constantly bets on the country is Samuel Doria Medina Mejía. The businessman and politician earned a master’s degree in Public Finance from the London School of Economics and has since promoted numerous ventures in his country. For 27 years, he led the Bolivian Cement Society, the country’s main cement company, which he sold to Grupo Gloria in 2014 for $300 million. He is currently the president of the real estate and hotel holding Comversa S.A. One of his most notable recent projects is Green Tower, the tallest skyscraper in Bolivia, located in La Paz. One of the most important units of this holding is the Los Tajibos hotel division, which was integrated into Marriott International in 2022 through Tribute Portfolio, a collection of high-end independent hotels.

Thus, the 2024 edition of Bloomberg Línea’s 500 Most Influential People in Latin America and the Caribbean includes three Bolivians. These representatives come from the business, technology, industrial, and service sectors (hospitality and construction).

The ranking highlights that Latin America continues to establish itself as a key region in business, culture, art, and technology. These leaders have managed to position themselves globally in key sectors such as artificial intelligence, technological innovation, mass consumption, and the management of the region’s vast natural resources.

Brazil at the top

Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America, leads the list with 178 prominent names. Among them are figures such as Olympic medalist Rebeca Andrade, CEO of Microsoft Brazil Tania Consentino, and iFood founder Fabricio Bloise, who are international leaders in their respective sectors.

Likewise, Mexico ranks second with 125 influential profiles. Notable among them are Katya Echazarreta, the first Mexican woman to travel to space, and Héctor Ibarzabal, a prominent figure in the real estate sector.

Argentina contributes 59 names to this select list. Among the most prominent are Marcos Galperin, founder of MercadoLibre; Miguel Galuccio, a pioneer in the shale oil & gas industry in South America; and Lionel Scaloni, the World Cup-winning coach with the Argentine national team. Additionally, Pope Francis remains a figure of great global relevance.

This recognition reaffirms the international impact Latin America is having in multiple sectors, highlighting the role of its leaders in the region’s economic and social development.

Methodology: Selection of the 500 Most Influential

The selection of the 500 most influential people in Latin America is based on a thorough analysis conducted by the Bloomberg Línea editorial team. Criteria considered include the ability to generate employment, investments that drive significant economic activities, and influence in diverse sectors such as finance, art, science, and sports. The increasing representation of women leaders and underrepresented demographic groups is also valued.

Bolivians Drive Up Demand for Soles on the Border with Peru

 A report from Infobae explains that merchants prefer to use the Peruvian sol for their transactions. The dollar shortage has led even Peruvian exchange houses to limit operations with Bolivian pesos.

The shortage of dollars in Bolivia and the economic crisis is impacting not only the country but also beyond its borders. This is the case in Peru, where Bolivian merchants prefer to use Peruvian soles for their transactions, driving up the demand for this currency, according to a report from the digital newspaper Infobae.

The article explains that the current exchange rate in Desaguadero is one sol for Bs 2.70, which “makes the sol a more stable currency for daily commercial operations.”

“The Bolivian peso has dropped too much. Bolivians don’t want their money, they want more soles because their currency is very devalued,” said a seller interviewed by Canal N.

This preference is also affecting Peruvians, who claim that the sol is stable and “well-positioned,” whereas the Bolivian currency “is devalued.”

“As a result, Bolivian citizens have started to reduce their purchases due to the loss of value of their currency, which is also affecting the sales of Peruvian merchants in the area.”

Soles The report details that even in Bolivia there are difficulties in obtaining soles due to the demand. “No one wants to accept Bolivian pesos as a form of payment, exacerbating the problem. Citizens are, in turn, desperately seeking dollars to keep their businesses running and cover basic needs, but the lack of foreign currency is making the situation even worse.”

It also explains that Bolivians traveling to Peru face challenges when trying to exchange their money for soles or dollars, as it is difficult for Bolivian currency to be accepted in that country.

“The shortage of foreign currency has caused even Peruvian exchange houses to limit operations with Bolivian pesos. In some cases, they don’t even accept Bolivians, further complicating transactions for Bolivian visitors in Peru.”

The official exchange rate of the U.S. dollar in Bolivia is Bs 6.96 for sale and Bs 6.86 for purchase; however, its shortage has led to offers above Bs 10 in a parallel market. Since last year, Bolivia has been suffering from a lack of this currency. Despite the government's efforts, the shortage is affecting the business sector and the general population.

On Sunday, President Luis Arce explained that the shortage of foreign currency is due to the failure to safeguard the nationalization of hydrocarbons, the dependence on fuel imports, and the “blocked” loans in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly.

The Fexco 2024 concludes by breaking records in visits and economic activity.

 The International Fair and Exhibition of Cochabamba (Fexco) concluded yesterday after 11 days of constant and intense activity. Preliminary figures indicate that all records established in previous events were broken. Companies made offers and promotions for the closing.

Alberto Arze, General Manager of Fexco, described the largest business event in the department as successful. Although the official and final report is still pending, as of yesterday at noon, the following numbers were recorded: 370,000 visitors, 1,500 exhibitors, and $175 million in economic activity.

"Our visitor target was surpassed, the doors will be closed from 9:00 p.m. today (yesterday) so that we can carry out the draw for a vehicle and a motorcycle. All the objectives set out were achieved as planned, both in the number of exhibitors and visitors. This was the Fexco of records," said Arze.

According to Arze, the population responded to the investments made, which will serve for the improvement of Cochabamba. "Great investments, effort, and the unity of all, that was Fexco," he added.

"The business round reached $90 million, a total success. All the figures we set for ourselves have been surpassed, and also the challenges we set for ourselves such as logistics, avoiding queues, we had a large number of people, but not the queues like last year," he noted.

He highlighted that the concerts had massive attendance, but with a lot of security, which was the objective of each social event.

Closing offers

Whole families came to Fexco to participate in the last day of the fair where a variety of offers and promotions were made.

Clothing, food products, and medicinal products were displayed at each booth so that visitors could take advantage of the promotions.

The beauty of the hostesses and the convincing power of the exhibitors did not allow anyone to leave empty-handed.

Families showed their satisfaction and look forward to innovations for the following year.

Fexco 2025

The General Manager of Fexco indicated that they will be attentive to the tender called by the Municipal Autonomous Government of Cochabamba for long-term administration.

"The contract we have as the Chamber of Industry, Commerce, and Services of Cochabamba (ICAM) ends on June 30, and we will be ready to present ourselves for the tender and God willing to take charge of the administration in the coming years," he stated.

The 13 things you should know about Census Day for Population and Housing

 Six days before the Population and Housing Census, the National Institute of Statistics (INE) has all logistics, personnel, and materials ready to carry out this activity in Bolivia after 12 years.

The census is a statistical procedure that allows for the collection, compilation, evaluation, analysis, publication, and dissemination of characteristics of households and demographic, economic, and social data related to all inhabitants of Bolivia.

On census day, circulation and all economic and commercial activities are prohibited; only census takers and individuals authorized by the INE will be allowed to move.

The information obtained in the census will be used in the planning of public policies and by the Electoral Body for the redistribution of seats and redesign of electoral districts.

The 13 things to know about census day are as follows:

    Organization

INE has over 820,000 volunteer census takers nationwide, along with 4,813 zone chiefs, 268 block chiefs, 1,799 dispersed area chiefs, and 381 census work unit chiefs.

Zone chiefs will open the 6,612 operation centers across the country at 6:00. Half an hour later, they will organize the distribution of census boxes, which will be delivered to sector supervisors until 7:00. INE distributed 90,051 census boxes in the nine departments with bags containing a board, segment map, C-1 and C-2 forms, census questionnaires, a pencil case with pencil, eraser, and sharpener, the census taker's credential, and stickers with the legend "Censused Residence."

    Census Takers

Census takers are prohibited from entering homes; the interview will take place at the door of the residence or apartment, in the case of condominiums.

Census takers will carry credentials with a QR code to confirm that they are enumerators.

Each urban census taker will enumerate 10 households, and in rural or dispersed areas, 30 to 35 dwellings, but within a three-day period.

Volunteers will visit over 5.8 million households nationwide.

Once the interview in each residence is completed, the census agent will place the "Censused Residence" sticker on the door.

    Good Governance Order

Departamental autonomous governments issued respective good governance orders; most prohibit circulation from 00:00 to 23:50 on Saturday and the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages from 00:00 on Friday until 23:59 on Saturday, along with other prohibitions such as carrying weapons or dangerous objects.

    Schedule

Citizens should expect census takers from 8:00 in the morning until 19:30 and must provide accurate information for proper form completion.

    Those Enumerated

All members of the family should be present during form completion, including household dependents.

Only individuals with a special permit issued by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) will be allowed to circulate.

Once enumerated, individuals cannot leave their homes until 23:59 on the same day.

Additionally, they must keep their pets indoors to avoid incidents with volunteer census takers.

    Census Form

The census form includes 59 questions to be answered by the head of the household.

The average completion time for the questionnaire is 40 minutes.

The form must be completed in pencil because during the interview, the volunteer may make an error or the respondent may give an incorrect answer, and the error can be corrected.

The census form for the National Population and Housing Census of March 23, 2024, contains seven chapters and 59 questions, 10 more than in the 2012 process. The seven chapters relate to housing location, housing type, housing characteristics, migration, mortality, person listing, and characteristics of each person.

    Restrictions

On March 23, the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages will be prohibited.

From 00:00 on Saturday, March 23, the movement of people and vehicles without the respective authorization will be prohibited.

Interdepartmental travel will be limited one day before the census. The police and terminal administrators must enforce this provision, considering that from 00:00 on March 23, no one can be on the streets or engaged in any activity.

On March 23, Census Day 2024, international borders will be closed, and there will be no land, rail, lake, river, or air transport services.

Bus terminals will suspend departures on Friday, March 22, according to the travel time to their destinations, which must be before midnight.

Only international flights will be operated at airports.

    Sanctions

The National Institute of Statistics and the Police coordinated that among the penalties applied to individuals who violate the good governance order is an eight-hour arrest.

Both police officers and the Armed Forces will be responsible for enforcing the provisions on census day.

Police officers will be on duty and enumerated one day before so that on census day, March 23, they can carry out control and security operations.

    Application

The National Institute of Statistics will provide an application for census takers and supervisors. It is an emergency button to report dangerous situations or risks during census day.

    Media

Between four and five press conferences will be held during census day to show the progress of the process. Journalists must have INE accreditation and respective permits for circulation.

    Collective Residences

Hospitals, military units, etc., will be considered collective residences for form completion. In red zones, census takers will have police accompaniment.

    Absentees

People who are traveling will be enumerated wherever they are.

    School

School classes will be suspended on Friday, March 22, in urban areas and only on Monday, March 25, in rural areas.

The World Bank projects a 1.5% economic growth for Bolivia in 2024.

 The World Bank (WB) projected yesterday that Bolivia will experience a 1.5 percent growth in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024 compared to 2023, and a similar percentage for 2025.

Last week, the Minister of Economy, Marcelo Montenegro, mentioned that in this year's economic outlook projections, a GDP growth of 3.71 percent is expected, with an inflation rate of 3.60 percent, public investment up to 4.274 billion dollars, and a negative overall fiscal balance (as a percentage of GDP) of 7.80 percent.

In its latest document titled "Global Economic Prospects," the international organization outlined that in Latin America and the Caribbean, the growth will increase to 2.3 percent this year and 2.5 percent in 2025.

Regarding other countries in the region, the WB estimated that Brazil will grow by 1.5 percent, Chile by 1.8 percent, Argentina by 2.7 percent, Colombia by 1.8 percent, Peru by 2.5 percent, Ecuador by 0.7 percent, Paraguay by 3.8 percent, and Uruguay by 3.2 percent.

In its report, the World Bank projected that global growth will decelerate for the third consecutive year, dropping from 2.6 percent recorded last year to 2.4 percent in 2024, nearly three-quarters of a percentage point below the average of the 2010s decade.

President of the BCB assures that the Bolivian is a 'strong currency' and there is no need to chase the dollar

 "There is no need for them to use the dollar because our national currency, the Bolivian, is a strong currency." This is how the President of the Central Bank of Bolivia (BCB), Edwin Rojas, called on the population to avoid seeking refuge in the U.S. currency and to maintain confidence in the Bolivian currency.

"It is not necessary for us to be chasing the dollar. Practically 100% of transactions are in the national currency," he emphasized.

The President of the BCB spoke out regarding the emergence of a parallel dollar market where the U.S. currency is sold at a higher price than in the formal market.

According to Rojas, individuals influenced by speculation in the dollar will end up losing.

He explained that buying the dollar in the parallel market would result in a loss in two ways: first, because it was acquired at a high price, and second, because the foreign currency is depreciating as the United States has had higher inflation than Bolivia.

In addition, those holding dollars would be unable to invest them in instruments offered by the national financial system because the currency used is the Bolivian boliviano.

He also mentioned that all activities, from shopping to going to the movies, are conducted in Bolivian bolivianos.

The President of the BCB highlighted the measures the government is taking to normalize the demand for dollars after a process he considered speculative.

Nevertheless, he guaranteed the flow of foreign currency within the framework of this year's budget forecasts.

Rojas also assured that there would be no change in the exchange rate policy, considering the economic growth and inflation expectations. He also pointed out that the oversupply of dollars would normalize when the population understands that the economy has sustainable growth and sees the results of industrialization.

Reserves

The President of the Central Bank addressed the fact that the Reserves International currencies were reduced to 166 million dollars.

He clarified that this amount in the Central Bank Reserves is used for public sector imports, while the majority of Bolivia's imports are from the private sector and are channeled through the financial system.

He detailed that the BCB uses its currencies for imports such as medicines, as well as for fuel subsidies and debt payments.

Mayors of the Americas share challenges and solutions on migration and climate change

 Leaders from the region shared best practices on the issues of migration response and economic inclusion, as well as climate adaptability in the Americas that could be replicated according to the needs of each city.  The meeting was attended by U.S Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. 

(Los Angeles, June 8, 2022). With the purpose of sharing and consolidating actions that will help us continue to build more inclusive, sustainable, productive, intelligent and safe cities in the Americas, CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, The Dialogue and the City of Los Angeles organized the first Summit of Mayors, within the framework of the IX Summit of the Americas. 

The meeting, which brought together 15 mayors from around the Americas, addressed two central themes of discussion in which cities share challenges and solutions: climate change and migration. The diagnosis is clear. According to figures from UN Habitat, more than 113 million people live in informal settlements, a trend that is especially driven by the migration growth rate, which has increased by at least 107% during the last three decades, resulting in challenges for cities and affecting their environmental and social sustainability.

The meeting was opened by the president of The Dialogue, Rebecca Bill Chavez; the executive president of CAF, Sergio Díaz-Granados; and the mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti. The closing remarks were made by U.S. Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken.

"The innovative policies that are generated at the local level are more important than ever as we see national governments stymied by polarization, gridlock, and stalemate. In many cases, it is mayors who are providing the much-needed innovative solutions," said Rebecca Bill Chavez, president of Inter-American Dialogue.

CAF’s executive president, Sergio Díaz-Granados, noted: “With this event CAF once again reaffirms its commitment to working with local governments in Latin America and the Caribbean, with the aim of contributing to their sustainable development through concrete actions that help them to face major challenges, such as climate and migration, for the benefit of the whole population.”

During his speech, the mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, affirmed that: “Los Angeles is a city where diversity is our greatest strength – where our melting pot of cultures and backgrounds give us deep connections throughout our hemisphere,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “We’re honored to host the Ninth Summit of the Americas to celebrate our shared history with our neighbors to the south and the north, and to continue working hand-in-hand on the solutions to the pressing challenges our residents face.”

Finally, US Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, said: “I met with mayors from across the US and the broader hemisphere in Los Angeles today to build partnerships toward more sustainable and resilient cities. I announced that we will host the first Cities Summit in Denver in April 2023.”

We consider to be it of the utmost importance to strengthen these spaces for dialogue and exchange between mayors of the Americas. For this reason, CAF and Inter-American Dialogue will hold this meeting annually, where leaders from the region will meet to reflect on opportunities for collaboration and best practices to address issues that affect citizens in general. 

Government and COB establish 3% wage increase for the basic salary and 4% for the national minimum wage

 The national government and the Central Obrera Boliviana (COB) established on Wednesday night a wage increase of 3% for the basic salary and 4% for the national minimum, in order to maintain the security and economic stability of the country.

This decision was taken at a meeting between President Luis Arce, ministers of State and the main representatives of the COB, headed by Juan Carlos Huarachi, at the Casa Grande del Pueblo.

"It has been agreed that the increase of the basic salary for 2022 will be 3% and the increase of the national minimum wage will be 4%", informed the President in a press conference.

Arce ratified his commitment to continue working for the welfare of Bolivians and acknowledged the maturity of the COB leaders to assume this decision for the good of the economy and stability of the country.

Arce said that in that meeting, which lasted about 4 hours, the COB workers were explained "in detail" the technical data handled by the government on the current economic situation, after overcoming the effects of COVID-19 and the mismanagement left by the de facto government.

"We are absolutely aware that this first achievement will give us the basis to continue advancing in all the pending issues with the COB," he said.

For his part, the executive secretary of the COB, Juan Carlos Huarachi, welcomed the willingness and commitment of the head of state to meet the demands of the workers and ratified that this organization will continue working to improve the productive apparatus.

"We are once again ratifying a commitment that we workers are going to guarantee the political stability of our Government", he endorsed.

Wage increase was not discussed: after the meeting with the minister, businessmen say that the negative effects will be the government's responsibility

 In the words of the president of the private businessmen, Luis Barbery, there was no opportunity to talk about the salary increase in the first meeting held this Monday with the Ministry of Economy. "Absolutely nothing, there was no need to touch that subject because the positions are already clear, the Government has its own position, and so do the businessmen. The concerns we have regarding the effects of the salary increase have not changed, it is the Government's responsibility", he said at the end of the meeting that lasted two hours.

"We are going to abide by the law, and the Government will have to bear the consequences (of the increase)", Barbery stressed, warning that the businessmen cannot sustain the increase "because the conditions of the country do not allow for it".

He also said that they have agreed to meet periodically to discuss all issues related to economic reactivation and employment generation.

The expected meeting of the businessmen with the Government was a disappointment for the workers because the wage increase was not addressed in this meeting, this was also confirmed by the Minister of Economy, Marcelo Montenegro.

"No, the issue was not raised by the businessmen, only the ones we have mentioned", said the minister when he was consulted about the wage negotiation that should have been part of this meeting.

Meanwhile, the businessmen stated that it is no longer possible to talk about the wage increase because the positions are clear and that they will abide by the Government's decree on this issue.  

The president of the Confederation of Private Businessmen of Bolivia (CEPB), Luis Barbery left the meeting in a little less than two hours. The businessmen refused to explain how much a significant salary increase would affect the sector and only said that the Government is responsible for the management of the country's economy and that the private sector will abide by the provisions.

The Executive is expected to issue the wage increase decree on May 1 in honor of Workers' Day and is now holding meetings with workers to set the percentage increase to the national minimum wage and the workers' basic wage.

According to Minister Montenegro, the businessmen addressed issues such as agribusiness, ethanol supply, the supply chain, foreign trade and the regulation of export procedures.

Government confirms that the Population Census will be held on November 16 with the deployment of 305,000 census takers.

 The National Government confirmed this Tuesday that the Population and Housing Census will be carried out on November 16, with the deployment of 305,000 surveyors. The previous stage will begin next week, with the cartographic update.

Humberto Arandia, executive director of the National Statistics Institute (INE), informed that the census form has already been finalized, which was reviewed by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and details concerning the budget required for the mobilization are still being fine-tuned.

He also explained that 10,000 people will be hired to carry out the cartographic data collection, a task that will be completed in July, when the pre-census is expected to be carried out, as long as the established parameters are met.

"The Census is a national priority because any bibliographic text points out that the census activity is the most complex and titanic task that a country can face, because it involves the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of people, approximately 305,000 surveyors should be mobilized, we should hire about 10,000 people in the pre-census stage to perform the cartographic update," said the authority.

The press conference:

He remarked that Supreme Decree 4546, approved in July 2021, establishes that the information survey will be carried out on November 16, and will last one day in the case of urban areas and three days in dispersed areas.

He emphasized that 93 and 97 percent less time is spent, compared to 2012 and 2022, and in the preparation of all the activities, using 861 days for the entire operation until the delivery of the results, which would take place at the end of 2023, approximately.

"The most important products that have already been concluded are the training for the statistical cartographic update, the methodological documents and manuals are ready, and in the next few days a group of people will start to travel around the country to georeference the houses; we have computer applications made exclusively for the field operation, one hundred percent free of vulnerabilities; coordination with municipalities was carried out to obtain information from urban and dispersed areas", he remarked.

In addition, INE developed applications to facilitate the work of cartographic updating and the deployment of pollsters, which were reviewed and considered secure. They will also enable a web portal in order to make transparent all actions related to the collection of information. 

In 37 years El Alto became the second largest city in terms of population and leader in production

 It is a strategic point for commercial distribution, which is reflected in its productive units. Of its enterprises, more than 30% are dedicated to commerce, the second category is construction. 

This March 6, El Alto celebrates 37 years of life. In these almost four decades of accelerated growth, the young city has become the second most populated city in the country. Its 14 districts are home to more than 30,000 productive units, a third of those legally registered in the entire department of La Paz.

Due to its strategic location, El Alto is an obligatory corridor for exports, which encourages its vocation in the areas of commerce and construction.

"Our eternal gratitude to our brothers from El Alto. We recognize the struggle of this courageous and tireless people. It is a people that has taught us the way to recover our democracy and our natural resources," said President Luis Arce on the eve of March 6.

The second most populated

The municipality of El Alto is located in the west of the country, in the high plateau and has an area of 387.56 square kilometers. It was created under Law 628 of March 6, 1985, as the fourth section of the Murillo province of the department of La Paz. It was not until September 26, 1988 that Law 1014 elevated it to city status.

In a previous interview with Página Siete, Gregorio Romero, one of the founders of El Alto (who died last October), detailed that the city was born with 307,403 inhabitants. The data was taken from a file on the birth of the city, which he treasured with devotion.

On sheets of paper yellowed by time, he kept the distribution of those first inhabitants in a typed list of the pioneer neighborhoods of El Alto: Bolivar A, Villa Dolores, Alto Lima, 16 de Julio I, 16 de Julio II, 12 de Octubre, Ballivián I, Ballivián II, Tejada Rectangular and Los Andes.    At that time there were only two sub-districts: north and south.

Today, that handful of houses scattered along the border with the seat of government has become one of the largest cities in the country. It has 14 districts, of which 10 are urban and four are rural.

According to projections by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) for 2022, El Alto has 1,109,048 inhabitants. In 37 years it managed to consolidate itself as the most populated city in the department of La Paz and the second at national level; below Santa Cruz de la Sierra (1,903,398 inhabitants) and above the seat of government (956,732 inhabitants).

While the average annual intercensal population growth rate for La Paz is -0.3%, for El Alto it is 2.4%. Although this is a significant figure, it is still below Achocalla, which has 3.4%.

 In line with the national trend, but not as pronounced, 51.3% -majority- of the population are women. Men represent 48.7%.

A report by the Dirección General de Análisis Productivo (Dapro) indicates that the population of the municipality of El Alto has a young age profile. It highlights that the majority of its inhabitants are between 10 and 19 years of age. In other words, unlike La Paz and Bolivian society, which is beginning to age, in the young city the majority of children, adolescents and young people are still young. 

But, of the more than one million inhabitants who are Alteños by heart and by conviction, there is a percentage who are also Alteños by birth. They are the inhabitants who were born in the young city after 1988, in a city already constituted. This group is between zero and 35 years of age and carries in their blood the mark of a thriving town.

"The young Alteño is enterprising, eager for progress without leaving aside his identity. We are children of migrants from La Paz, from the provinces, from the mines of Oruro and, therefore, a mixture of the most traditional of our Andean culture and the aspects of a completely modern city", defines Juan Pablo Copa. He is 35 years old and proudly assures: "I am from El Alto".

An urban center

At the level of the Murillo province, the municipality of El Alto stands out for its rate of urbanity, surpassing even the seat of government in this indicator and contrasting with the municipalities of Palca and Mecapaca, which are completely rural.

According to data from INE and the Ministry of Productive Development and Plural Economy (MDPyEP), the distribution of the population by area in El Alto corresponds to 99.8% in urban areas and 0.2% in rural areas. In the seat of government, 99% of the population is urban and 1% is rural.

A Depro publication from 2021 explains that currently the municipality of El Alto has 14 municipal districts, of which ten are recognized as urban (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 14) and four as rural (9, 10, 11 and 13).

"The demographic growth of the population of El Alto is one of the significant factors in urban expansion in the last decade. Consequently, the urban area of the city of El Alto is structured with a radial layout, combined with a grid layout. In relation to the process of district delimitation, changes in its jurisdictional delimitation were developed between 1997 and consolidated until 2013," he explains.

He adds that the proximity of the communities to the urban area is accelerating the changes from rural to urban land use. He warns that this allows illegal human settlements that encourage a land market without having the legal regulation completed. This has repercussions on legal insecurity in terms of property rights. 

Commerce and construction

According to the Bolivian Registry of Commerce, the Current Business Base (BEV) of the municipality of El Alto at the end of 2021 was 30,167 productive units legally registered in that city. During that period, 2,260 companies were created, which implies a 53% growth compared to those created in 2020, when 1,475 companies were registered.

"This increase in the registration of companies is a reflection of the reactivation and recovery of the economy," states the MDPyEP's Eco Bolivia bulletin, issued on March 3.

According to Fundempresa, 86% of the BEV belongs to sole proprietorships, while the number of limited liability companies exceeds 4,000 economic units. In addition, the municipality of El Alto has slightly more than 60 companies incorporated as corporations. Likewise, 36% of the established companies are dedicated to the commercial sector and 34% to the productive sector. The remaining percentage is dedicated to different types of services. "It is perceived that one of the factors that notoriously affects the tertiary character of the productive profile of the municipality of El Alto is the presence of many economic units dedicated to the commercial activity", indicates the Productive Report of the municipality of El Alto 2021, published by the Depro.

In the productive sector, the most representative sector is construction, followed by manufacturing industry. There are also companies in the areas of mining and quarrying; agriculture, forestry and fishing; water, sewage and waste management; and electricity and gas supply.

In terms of services, in descending order, there are companies in transportation and storage services; professional and technical services; information and communications; accommodation, meals, administrative services; education, health and social assistance; financial and insurance intermediation; and arts and entertainment activities.

"Despite its large tertiary sector, the municipality of El Alto has conditions for the development of industrial activities such as high-voltage electric power connections, natural gas networks, and local and international telephone communication services and fiber optic connections. These conditions allow it to generate a productive dynamic of some large and medium-sized companies, but mainly small enterprises in the areas of food, clothing made in small industrial, manufacturing and handicraft units," states the same document.

It adds that the fairs in different areas and districts, where there is the purchase and sale of all kinds of products, are the activities of greater representation in terms of informal trade in El Alto. Undoubtedly the most famous is the 16 de Julio Fair, known worldwide as the emblem of El Alto.

A gateway to export Bolivian products to the world. 

El Alto's geographical position makes it a strategic point for export, import and commercial distribution. It has access by air and land to the city of La Paz. It is also a connection point with the ports of Ilo (593 km), Arica (457 km) and Matarani (787 km) on the Pacific. It is connected to Oruro through 6 de Marzo Avenue - road to Oruro, which connects with the road to Arica, as well as with Cochabamba. The Juan Pablo II Avenue - Panamerican Highway connects to Desaguadero.

The first order roads are characterized for being structuring to the international transit roads, interdepartmental and municipal roads.

According to the document El Alto in figures, published by the INE last week, the main exit doors for export goods are located in the young city. These are the International Airport and the El Alto Industrial Free Trade Zone.

According to data published by the INE, the movement of goods through these customs reached US$2,742 million in 2021. The main route was the air terminal.

While US$2,741.87 million left through El Alto International Airport, only US$0.11 million left through the Free Trade Zone.

Other economic data

According to data from the Financial System Supervisory Authority, 99.9% of loans in the city of El Alto are in local currency, as are 95.5% of deposits.

Also, according to the MDPyEP, tax collection in the city of El Alto reached 324 million bolivianos. The amount increased by 26% compared to 2020, reflecting the economic reactivation.

As of October 2021, according to official data, El Alto's executed public investment reached US$91 million, while in the same period of 2020 it reached US$55 million. 

  

Argentine flour price rises and Emapa guarantees its supply

Industrialists warn that the price will affect a rise in cookies, noodles and other products that are not made with Emapa flour. Fejuve asks not to raise the price of bread.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has already had repercussions in Bolivia with the increase in the price of flour from 165 to 210 bolivianos per quintal, although the Food Production Support Company (Emapa) guarantees the supply and that battle bread will not suffer any increase.

The president of the Association of Industrial Millers (ADIM), Carlos Gutiérrez, reported that Bolivia imports enough wheat flour and this has a direct impact on market prices.

"Flour has already gone up in price, there is a constant increase. A month ago it was at 165 bolivianos per quintal, but now it is at 210 bolivianos, on average", he specified in contact with Página Siete.

He explained that the bakery industry of the west has the supply of flour from Emapa and that guarantees that the price of battle bread does not suffer an increase.

"This increase in the price of flour goes to the bakeries, the marginal bread markets that do not have access to Emapa's flour, must raise the price of cookies and bagged bread. Industrial companies have access to flour at market prices," said the industrialist.

He added that this will also have an impact on the industry that manufactures noodles and other pasta.

Until November last year, a quintal of the imported product cost up to 140 bolivianos, lower than the price marketed by Emapa at that time, which was 147 to 150 bolivianos.

Seventy percent of the flour consumed in the country comes mainly from Argentina and 30% from the domestic supply.

Figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) processed by the Bolivian Institute of Foreign Trade (IBCE) reveal that in 2019 Bolivia imported flour for 111 million dollars, the following year it reached 127 million and in 2021 it dropped to 92.8 million dollars. In January flour entered for US$5.7 million (see graph).

The executive of the Federation of Bakers of La Paz, Dandy Mallea, agreed that the quintal of flour rose from 165 to 210 bolivianos. "Yesterday (Thursday) we met with all the leaders of the sector and it has been determined to declare a state of emergency, because the price of the quintal of flour in the market has risen disproportionately. What used to cost 165, 160 bolivianos, today the same flour costs 200, 210 bolivianos. And, to top it off, there is no flour that can be within the supply in grocery stores," he told Red Uno.

Emapa's manager, Franklin Flores, assured that the entity guarantees the distribution of flour to the bakery sector to keep the price of battle bread stable.

"We guarantee all the flour required by the baking sector. Emapa has to date about 130 thousand tons of wheat stockpiled in the silos of the Bolivian State, therefore, families can be calm because we have the necessary wheat," he said.

Flores reported that there is a sufficient stockpile to mill and produce 1.6 million quintals of flour to distribute to bakers and this management is planned to stockpile 200 thousand tons of wheat to ensure the supply of flour in 2023.

The Government has an agreement with the bakery sector, which was signed last January, to keep the price of bread stable at 50 Boliviano cents in La Paz, El Alto and Cochabamba; 40 cents in Oruro and 30 cents in Potosí, among other regions.

The president of the Federation of Neighborhood Councils (Fejuve) of La Paz, René Ballivián, rejected the possible increase in the price of the unit of bread, after the bakers denounced the increase of the quintal of flour and did not rule out mobilizations so as not to affect the family basket of the people of La Paz.

"On behalf of the 633 neighborhood boards and the 150 native communities we transmit to the population that we have taken the determination of not allowing the rise in the price of bread and if this happens, we will take the appropriate measures, from mobilizations to a stoppage of activities," he said.

He warned that a possible increase in the price of bread will unleash inflation in the country.

According to the portal of the Argentine newspaper El Cronista, in Argentina, in five days the price of flour increased 70% due to the war between Russia and Ukraine. 

In Peru, it increased by 12 soles in the last days. The bag went from 122 to 136 soles, reported Infobae. 

Impossible" rules and helplessness: the ordeal for independent taxpayers

 Independent professionals and heads of sole proprietorships complain about the obligation to declare invoices only for specific items. The SIN assures that the rule is complied with transparently.

At the doors of the offices of the National Tax Service (SIN), on 20 de Octubre street in La Paz, some 30 people in line protect themselves from the intense sun with the umbrellas they used just before for the rain. Most of them are "independent taxpayers" and wait their turn with doubts and complaints.

"I closed 2020 the NIT that I opened as an independent professional and it turns out that yesterday I get a notification saying that I have high fines; they did not take the closing of my NIT and now they want me to pay their mistake", claims Julia A. "I have three open processes and now they open me another one says that for a false invoice of 2014, how can it be? There is no way to defend yourself, they force you to present invoices of an item that they do not reach and you have no choice but to buy; in the end it is the same: you pay or you pay", laments consultant Ramiro H.

Similar complaints arrive daily at the offices of the SIN and other instances. According to the statistical report of the Ombudsman's Office, in the years 2019 to 2021, the institution attended 42 complaints against the National Tax Service. Of these, 20 -the majority- were for labor rights violations and 16 were for complaints and petitions from taxpayers who did not obtain answers.

"Most independent taxpayers do not file complaints because it does not do much good. You always lose before Taxes," Julia stresses.

Bolivian law - through the Tax Code, Law 843 and regulatory supreme decrees - establishes that any person, whether natural or legal, who habitually engages in the sale of movable goods, imports, performs works or provides services or renders services of any nature is a taxpayer of Value Added Tax (VAT). Generally, they are also obliged to register as taxpayers of the Transaction Tax (IT).

"When economic activities are carried out, natural or legal persons are obliged to register as direct tax payers and, in the case of legal persons, also as withholding agents of taxes payable by third parties. Registration implies obtaining a tax identification number (NIT)," explains a tax advisor who asks to keep his name confidential due to the nature of his activity.

"In every State people must pay taxes and our country is no exception. Therefore, every person or business that carries out an economic activity has the obligation to carry out its activities in accordance with current regulations. Obtaining a NIT gives you the legal security that your activity is legal and recognized by the State", explained the SIN in an institutional response to a form from Página Siete.

What obligations and benefits does a person who obtains a NIT have? "Among the most important rights that the taxpayer has is to be informed and assisted in the compliance of his tax obligations and in the exercise of his rights; among his most relevant obligations is to be registered in the National Taxpayers Registry in the activity that corresponds to him, in addition to determine, declare and pay correctly and on time his taxes, as established in the Commercial Code and Tax Code", was the institutional response. 

The self-employed

"I am registered as a 'self-employed professional' and it turns out that in order to discharge taxes you can only present invoices related to 'stationery', light, telephone, water; that is to say basic services, as if I were an office and not a self-employed professional who works at home and whose tool and office is basically the computer. Besides, don't we eat, aren't our expenses daily life itself, such as the market, clothes or the pharmacy, don't we generate taxes that those businesses or services pay with all the invoices we present? It is absurd," questions independent journalist Cecilia Lanza.

She points out that, in addition, for the sector there is double invoicing derived from the annual tax. "Again, as if we were a company that generates profits, nothing could be further from reality. Practically everything that one has earned with effort ends up going to pay taxes. One ends up working for the SIN, when there is a large portion of society - smugglers, large, medium and informal traders - who do not pay a penny of taxes. The minimum percentage of those of us who pay taxes pay for the great majority and on top of that we are squeezed. That is why it is very difficult to undertake and trust in this country", he stresses.

The SIN assures that it is committed to the norm: "Article 8 of Law 843 establishes that the tax credit originates in purchases, acquisitions, hiring or definitive imports, linked to the taxed activity. Therefore, expenses that are not linked to the taxed activity cannot be considered for a VAT Tax Debit compensation."

"Now the modality of teleworking has made it more difficult to identify purchases or expenses linked to the taxed activity (for example, the internet service in a house serves both for work and for other things) and there is no objective way or specific rule that allows to do so. As long as the issue is not regulated, it is better not to compute the tax credits of these purchases for VAT (but they are useful for IUE or RC-VAT)", advises the expert.

"In Bolivia, the tax system is so complex and the tax burden so great, that many prefer to work informally or hide behind simplified regimes", he adds. 

"A torture." 

"This is the second time I open NIT. I closed it before for similar reasons: they took a lot of money from me unjustly, it's torture," Lanza laments. "And when I complained to the official on duty, he said that 'they had to meet monthly collection goals', so there were no reasons or arguments but to take money from the taxpayer. This is how we are: impotent, helpless".

The SIN maintains that through the Call Center 800103444, the service platforms and social networks it is in constant contact with taxpayers, with professional accountants and auditors, answering and clarifying tax queries". Meanwhile, queues continue at its offices.

The tax obligations that the NIT entails

 The main obligations arising from the registration, which involves obtaining a tax identification number (NIT), are:

1. To liquidate and pay, every month, a 13% VAT on the sales of goods or services rendered.

2. To liquidate and pay, every month, 3% of IT on the sales of goods or services rendered.

3. In case of legal entities, to withhold in favor of the Treasury, every month, 13% of RC-VAT, 3% of IT, 12.5% of IUE.

4. In the case of natural persons -except those who work as independent professionals or tradesmen- liquidate and pay, every three months, a 13% of RC-VAT, with the benefit of deducting from this tax the 13% of VAT included in the invoices of personal consumptions.

5. In the case of legal entities, liquidate and pay, every year, 25% IUE on annual profits.

6. In the case of individuals who practice as self-employed professionals, they must liquidate and pay, each year, the IUE on profits, which are calculated on a presumptive basis and with the benefit of deducting from this tax up to 50% of the 13% VAT included in the invoices of personal consumption.