Bolivia is beginning a new chapter.
For nearly two decades, my country was governed by the Movement Toward Socialism. That period reshaped Bolivias economy, institutions, and relationship with the United States. Today, my government is taking a different direction: rebuilding confidence, strengthening institutions, opening the economy to investment, and creating more room for private enterprise and entrepreneurship.
When I took office, Bolivias Central Bank had only $51 million in reserves. Ten months later, reserves had risen to close to $1.2 billion, and our objective is to continue rebuilding them. Inflation remains high, fuel shortages have tested our people, and the work ahead is difficult. But the direction is clear: Bolivia is putting its economic house in order.
TRUMP ADMIN BACKS BOLIVIA STATE OF EMERGENCY AS LEFTIST EX-LEADER’S LOYALISTS FRACTURE NATION
During my campaign, I described our approach as “capitalism for everyone.” By that I mean access to capital, the ability to invest, the freedom to build businesses, and the opportunity to create jobs and prosperity. Ideology does not put food on the table. Employment does. Production does. Investment does. Economic growth does.
This new economic direction is also creating the basis for a new relationship with the United States. My discussions in New York with Secretary of State Marco Rubio reflected an important change in the relationship between our countries. Bolivia seeks cooperation with the United States based on mutual respect, economic opportunity, security, investment, and shared interests.
THE UNLIKELY SOUTH AMERICAN ALLY HELPING LEAD TRUMP’S DRUG CARTEL CRACKDOWN
The Trump administration has placed renewed attention on the Western Hemisphere, including economic strength, security, and cooperation among the nations of the Americas. Bolivia intends to engage constructively in that conversation while pursuing its own national interests and rebuilding relationships that can contribute to growth and stability.
Bolivia is open for business. But opening our economy does not mean selling our future.
RESOURCE-RICH NATION PRAISES US TIES AMID WASHINGTON-BEIJING CRITICAL MINERALS RACE
Our country possesses extraordinary natural wealth. We have natural gas, agricultural capacity, forests, and strategic minerals including lithium, copper, and tin that are increasingly important to the global economy. But we do not want to repeat the history of countries that exported their natural resources for decades while remaining poor.
Bolivia cannot simply remove minerals from the ground, ship them abroad, and watch other countries create the technology, manufacturing, jobs, and value from them. We want long-term partnerships built around employment, training, technology, infrastructure, productivity, and value added in Bolivia.
AFRICAN GROWTH BOOM FOLLOWS TRUMP PUSH TO REPLACE AID WITH TRADE
Our message to American and international investors is straightforward: Bolivia wel
