The Bolivian economic growth remains the same as ten years ago. Even though Bolivia receives six more times economic resources from gas and minerals, the GNP (PIB in Spanish) remains around a historical 4%, according to the Confederation of Bolivian Entrepreneurs (CEPB).

The CEPB President, Daniel Sanchez ponders current economic growth but said we could have a better economy. Regarding the presidential speech over the weekend, Sanchez said it will be hard to verify the growth mentioned in that speech. Based on a report from the Economics and Public Finances Ministry, it was verified that the real GNO growth between 2000 and 2010 had an average of 4.1%, which surpasses a little bit the 4% barrier.

Sanchez observed that 74 million dollars have been lost in the exports of non-traditional products; and that reinforces the idea that only gas and minerals are the ones who generated income for the country and not the manufactured goods or the ones exported.

http://www.paginasiete.bo/2011-08-09/Economia/NoticiaPrincipal/8Eco01-090811.aspx

La Razon reports today that the prices of minerals and oil are falling down, as stated by data published in the web site of the Mining and Metallurgy Ministry, that picks data from the London Stock market on tin, lead, zinc and copper prices who are the ones who have been falling down this month (data from August 1 to 8, 2011).

This is the lowest price for tin since September 2010. The fall on the oil price could impact the natural gas income we receive from our exports to Brazil and Argentina. To date, the most important source for the government are the taxes from the mining sector and from the State owned petroleum company YPFB (35.1% of the total tax revenues). According to government official, vice-minister for mining, Hector Cordova, the fall was big but not significant; he hopes this fall will be temporary.

http://www.la-razon.com/version.php?ArticleId=135300&EditionId=2616