This document provides an overview of Bolivia, including its location in South America, population, economy, natural resources, climate, culture, and politics. Some key points: - Bolivia has a population of over 10 million people and borders Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. Its economy relies heavily on natural gas exports. - The country has diverse climate zones from the Andes mountains to the Amazon jungle. Indigenous groups like the Aymara and Quechua make up a large portion of the population. - Bolivia has a multi-party democratic political system and Evo Morales has been president since 2006. There are ongoing debates around resource nationalism and rights for indigenous groups.

2. *Center of South America
*North East: Brazil
*South: Paraguay & Argentina
*South West: Chile & Peru
Population: 10,290,003 people
GDP: $24.6 billion
Inflation Rate: 9.9%

3. *Roman Catholic (95%)
*Least Developed & Poorest Country
*80’S Crisis and political instability (2003-
2005)
*Largest Natural Gas
Reserves
*Land Mass: 1,058,581
(double as Spain)
*Key Sectors : mining,
hydrocarbons
and natural gas

4. Wiphala of QullaSuyu
*Whipala (Dual-National Flag)
Represents Indigenous Regions
*The color of the longest diagonal line (seven squares)
determines which of the four suyus (regions) the flag
represents: white for Qullasuyu, yellow for Kuntisuyu, red
for Chinchaysuyu, and green for Antisuyu.
Low Class: (Mayority)
Aymara , Quechua, and white.
Upper Class (Minority):
White &Mestizo (mixed
white and Amerindian
ancestry

5. • Extreme weather conditions:
• -0º C in Andes (West)
• Green Fertile Region (Middle)
• Warm-Tropical near Brazil (East)
• The highest peak in Bolivia, the snowcapped
Sajama (which rises to 6542 meters)
Environmental Issue:
*Excessive Clearing of land
-Slash and burn
-Deforestation
-Water Pollution

6. • Biggest Lake in South A./highest in the World
• Border between Peru and Bolivia

7. 3 Major Regions:
A) Zona Andina/Altiplano
-Andes Mountains
B) Zona Subandino (Cochabamba &
Sucre)
-Croping zone (due to near rivers)
C) Zona de los Llanos
-Amazonas Jungle conditions

8. $8.332 billion (2011 estimate)
Main exporting goods:
• Natural Gas
• Soybeans and soy based products
• Crude petroleum
• Minerals: zinc, ore & tin
• (25%) of all exports are hydrocarbons
Main exporter partners are Brazil, US,
South Korea, Peru, Argentina & japan.

9. $7.126 billion (2011 estimate)
Bolivia main imports items are :
• Petroleum
Their mayor partners for imports
are Chile, Brazil, Argentina, USA
& Peru
• Plastics
• Paper
• Insecticides.
• Aircraft parts
• Prepared foods
• Automobiles

10. Multilateral Agrement:
*WTO member (12 September 1995)
Customs Union:
*Andean Community (26 May 1969)
Founding Member
Mercosur (17 December 1996)
Preferential Partners:
Chile (6 April 1993)
Mexico (7 junio 2012)
USA (“Andean Trade Preference and Drug Enforcement Act)
UNASUR (18 May 2008)

11.  Monetary Rate:Peso Boliviano (1 US dollar = 7.0100 Bolivian
bolivianos)
 Unemployment rate: 5.5%
 GDP - per capita (PPP): $4,900 (2011 est.)
 Languages are: Spanish (official) 60.7%, Quechua (official) 21.2%,
Aymara (official) 14.6%, foreign languages 2.4%, other 1.2%
 Electricity: From fossil fuels (67%) & from Hidroelectric
Plants(31.7%)

12. • Natural location
• Third biggest producer (after Colombia & Peru)
• Regulated but not prohibited in South America
• Illegal export and crop planting in other countries
• Sacred Traditional for Andean Ethnic Goups
• 35,000 hectares under cultivation in 2009,
• Continuous struggle against and in favor of planting expansion
• 2009 Constitutional Article in Coca Preservation

13.  Chief of state: President Juan Evo
Morales Ayma
(since 22 January 2006)
 inequitable distribution of
resources, poverty, big non-
Spanish speaking population (40%)
 Nationalization of companies
 Democratic Republic with 3 powers
(Legislative, Judicial and Executive)
 9 Administrative Departments
 Three major forces (Left, Right,
Middle), heavily influenced by
power groups

14. Dress:
*For men neutral colors reflecting
confidence & professionalism
For Women conservative due to high
maleness
Clothing:
*About 30 different different native ethnic
clothing styles (vary a lot)
Body Language:
*Always show professionalism and
confidence
*Personal space can be “transgressed”
when saluting or goodbye but never
exaggerate
*Bolivians are curious. Ask about: how
much a people earn? , Or how much it
costs some item? This is not considered
rude in their culture.
*Foresee events according to past ones

15. *Bolivians are optimistic,
hardworking, and perseverant.
*Still it’s very hard to make business
due to a huge gap between
economic statuses and education
*World’s most entrepeneur Country
(2009)
*Foresee events according to past
ones

16.  Handshaking when entering and leaving
 Wait for them to start the conversation
 Eye contact at every moment
 Exchange Business Cards (recommended to have a side translated in
Spanish)
 Be sure to include your highest studied grade in order for people to call
you that way
 Call people by their name & profession, if it’s impossible use Mr. or Ms.
 Give as gift something from your country or something really simple and
professional

17.  You may be asked about yourself and your family
 Wait for them to start the business conversation
 Meetings are formal but in essence relaxed
 Schedules are not very structure, you may be assigned a time and place but
it’s only a guideline
 No time limits in the meetings
 Remember that as confortable as the meeting is never be to direct, stay
always professional
 If you don’t know Spanish, is better to bring a translator

19. • Gifts are usually given in holidays like
Christmas, New Year and birthdays
• Quality over anything else
• Ideas:
• Flowers (never yellow or purple)
• Never give knives or sharp objects (means
you want to end the relationship)
• Gift are not opened when received but later

20.  Continious struggle on joining labor forces
because of maleness (machismo) in the
zone.
 Women are the ones who involve the
whole family in religious activites
 Housewives, the ones who control all
home activities