Blockades cripple 99% of businesses and cost export deals | Bloqueos paralizan el 99% de las empresas y afectan contratos de exportación

By DTV, Eju.Tv:

Blockades Paralyze 99% of Businesses and Cause Loss of Contracts with Peru and Brazil, Says Conamype

The leader maintained that the situation affects not only small business owners, but also guild members, independent workers, and professionals who have bank obligations and depend on daily economic activity.

The president of the National Confederation of Micro and Small Enterprises (Conamype), Edwin Fernández, stated on Monday that the ongoing blockades and social unrest in the country have brought nearly all productive activity in the cities of La Paz and El Alto to a standstill, while also causing the loss of commercial contracts with international markets such as Peru and Brazil.

“Practically 99% of companies here in La Paz and El Alto are paralyzed. The measures taken must be appropriate. The president (Rodrigo Paz) should call on us—the people who generate jobs—to discuss what can be done,” Fernández said, referring to the impact of the 46 days of blockades that have mainly affected the La Paz department and disrupted the economic activities of thousands of productive enterprises.

The business leader stressed that the situation affects not only small entrepreneurs but also gremiales (market vendors), self-employed workers, and professionals who have bank obligations and rely on daily economic activity to meet their commitments.

Fernández noted that government measures such as loan payment extensions provide only temporary relief and do not address the structural problems facing the sector. He therefore urged authorities to engage representatives of productive sectors in seeking long-term solutions.

He also reported that accumulated economic losses have exceeded Bs 840 million and warned that the effects of the crisis will continue even after the blockades end because of disruptions throughout the production chain.

One of the sector’s greatest concerns is the loss of business contracts with clients in Peru and Brazil. According to Fernández, building commercial relationships with foreign markets takes years of effort, making the recovery of those opportunities a lengthy and complex process.

Bolivia entered its 46th day of blockades on Monday amid an increasingly evident paradox: although signs of fatigue and partial withdrawal are emerging among some protesting groups, the crisis remains without a clear political solution and continues to generate significant economic, social, and humanitarian costs.

Reports from the Bolivian Highway Administration (ABC) indicate that approximately 50 blockade points remain active across six departments, with Cochabamba and La Paz as the main centers of conflict. However, the number has decreased considerably compared to the previous day, as some organizations have begun to pause and partially scale back their protest measures.

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