In 2003, ITC assessed the demand and supply of trade information services in Bolivia, in close cooperation with trade support institutions in the country. It carried out two extensive surveys, including interviews with 120 exporting companies and 24 information services. On the basis of the survey results, ITC developed a “Strategic Plan”, which was refined over the course of three workshops held in Santa Cruz, Cochabamba and La Paz at the end of 2003. The action plan contains 23 “development programmes” to share existing information resources and know-how effectively, and to develop new services for exporters. Bolivia is the 15th developing country so far to implement ITC’s “Business Information Review” methodology and plans are under way to conduct similar surveys in other partner countries.


For more information, contact Bernard Ancel, Chief, ITC Trade Information Section, at ancel@intracen.org

ITC launched a six-month preparatory assistance phase for Bolivian exports in June 1999, following a Swiss-funded programming mission to the country. The preparatory assistance is based on a cross-sectoral approach. Within the context of the country’s overall foreign trade strategy, ITC and the Government of Bolivia will then define major elements of an ITC technical assistance strategy for the country. Institutional aspects for trade promotion and export development, human resources development, export packaging, quality control and export certification are the major areas covered. The resulting strategy will provide a mix of technical assistance, with one portion for a range of the most promising sectors with export potential, and another portion containing more comprehensive technical assistance for selected sectors.

For more information, contact Rubens Lopes Braga, Senior Trade Promotion Officer, at braga@intracen.org