This Monday, Bolivia will deliver the Mercosur accession law that was sanctioned last week by the Legislative Assembly and promulgated by President Luis Arce. As of today, the country is a member and in 30 days it will be a full member.
Vice Chancellor Elmer Catarina considered that Bolivia's entry into the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) is a great opportunity mainly for the livestock, iron and lithium sectors, among others that exist in the country and that have interest from different markets in the country. region and the world.
“It is a great challenge and a great opportunity. Yes, we have muscles in some sectors such as the livestock sector, for example; The lithium sector will be a great opportunity when we begin to industrialize on a large scale,” said the authority.
According to data from the International Trade Center (ITC), Bolivia is among the largest meat exporters in the world.
Beef production is carried out mainly in the department of Santa Cruz from where it is sold to the internal and external markets, making it a sector that should be taken advantage of in Mercosur.
Regarding lithium, since December 2023, the country already produces lithium carbonate at an industrial level and an income of Bs 533.74 million (US$ 77 million) is expected for this year.
Regarding iron, Catarina maintained that this mineral that will be industrialized in the country will be “more refined than the iron produced in Brazil.”
Currently, Bolivia is building the Mutún Steel Complex in Puerto Suárez, Santa Cruz, which will begin operations in August. The factory will produce 200,000 tons of steel per year.
“Silver, aluminum, for example, we still have another opportunity. Rare earths once we start industrializing will be a great opportunity,” he added.
SUMMIT
This Monday, Bolivia will deliver the Mercosur accession law that was sanctioned last week by the Legislative Assembly and promulgated by President Luis Arce. As of today, the country is a member and in 30 days it will be a full member.
“Once the deposit (of the law) is made, it takes 30 days, and it comes into effect; Therefore, after 30 days we are already net full members and on that day what lies ahead is hard work for all the ministries. Now we will no longer go as listeners or simply to give our opinion, now we will have to vote and the Foreign Ministry is prepared to take this big step,” he said.
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