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C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000023 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/16 
TAGS: ECON PREL BL EINV EFIN SNAR ETRD
SUBJECT: Morales begins next administration in strong economic 
position 
 
REF: 09 LA PAZ 1417 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: JohnSCreamer, ChargeD'Affaires; REASON: 1.4(B), (D) 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY. As President Morales is inaugurated into his second 
term in office, Bolivia enters 2010 with strong economic 
fundamentals. Although concerns remain about the investment 
climate, GDP continues its strong growth (6.1% in 2008, 3.25% in 
2009), inflation fell significantly (from 11.8% in 2008 to 0.25% in 
2009), reserves are high, the exchange rate is stable, and the 
financial system is strong. With Morales likely to continue with 
similar economic policies, a recent briefing from the World Bank 
shows that the Bolivian economy appears to be in good shape for 
¶2010. END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
¶2. (U) Bolivia has been relatively isolated from the global 
economic crisis, posting GDP growth rates above those in the 
region. With an average growth rate of 3.4% from 1996-2005 and an 
average of 5.2% in 2006-2008, growth peaked at 6.1% in 2008. Growth 
slowed in 2009, but GDP still managed to grow at 3.25% and is 
expected between 3-4% for 2010. The main factors in recent GDP 
growth have been the mining sector, public investment, the 
transportation sector, and continued high remittances. 
 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) 2010 growth will likely be more dependent on public 
investment as foreign and private investment continues to decline. 
The GOB has the funds for public sector investment but managerial 
capacity and technical skill will be a major constraint. The 
Morales government has plans for large infrastructure projects, 
some of which will be managed by the state run oil company YPFB. An 
expected general rise in commodity, mining, and gas prices will 
also have a positive effect on GDP. 
 
 
 
¶4. (U) Bolivian Central Bank policies have been praised by the 
World Bank and IMF in bringing down inflation, maintaining a stable 
exchange rate, and increasing international reserves. Lower food 
prices and reduced domestic demand contributed to the lowering of 
the inflation rate from 11.8% in 2008 to 0.25% in 2009. It is 
expected to remain low for 2010, with the IMF expecting something 
closer to 4%. 
 
 
 
¶5. (U) The exchange rate has been set at a crawling peg and the 
current rate of 7.07 Bolivianos = US$1, which the World Bank 
believes reflects market equilibrium and does not anticipate 
pressure to devalue in 2010. Reserves rose from $3.2 billion in 
2006 to $8.6 billion in 2009, and will likely continue to grow 
throughout 2010. Still, with large public infrastructure projects 
planned, and with the GOB need to continue financing social 
programs like the popular conditional cash transfers called 
"bonos," there is no guarantee they will not be tapped as a funding 
source. 
 
 
 
¶6. (U) The financial system also continues to remain strong. 
Interest rates remain low at 8.3 %, and bank deposits have steadily 
grown over the last 18 months. Additionally, the percentage of 
deposits held in dollars has dropped from 95% in 2005 to closer to 
60% today, a sign of increased confidence in the financial system. 
Still, the banks' accumulation of excess reserves due to weak 
demand for loans is disturbing. Private sector investment fell from 
18% of GDP in 1998 to only 7% in 2009. This poses a medium-term 
threat to continued growth. 
 
 
¶7. (U) Morales has chosen to keep Minister of Economy and Finance 
Luis Arce in place for the time being. This signals that he 
approves of his work and that things will continue along the same 
path. Arce is generally seen by economists, international rating 
agencies, business people, and the international financial 
institutions as competent, despite Morales' socialist rhetoric. In 
his inauguration speech, Morales praised Arce for his care of the 
economy and for taking the country through the world economic 
crisis with impressive GDP growth, an historic increase in exports 
and reserves, and keeping inflation low. 
 
 
 
¶8. (U) The IMF concluded an Article IV Consultation with Bolivia on 
January 21 and the overall assessment is a positive one, 
highlighting the positives mentioned above and offering minor 
suggestions for improvements in the tax structure and investment 
climate. The World Bank also recently told us that they expect the 
economic fundamentals to stay strong through 2010. Rating agencies 
Moody's and Fitch both upgraded Bolivia in September 2009 (from B3 
to B2 and from B- to B respectively), citing strong fiscal policy 
and decreased political unrest. 
 
 
 
¶9. (U) The Morales government has utilized three conditional cash 
transfer programs (bonos) to assist needy groups in the population: 
public school children, mothers with young children, and retirees 
(ref A). The GOB claims a 10 point fall in extreme poverty for the 
period 2007-2008 as a result of the bono programs. The World Bank 
is skeptical of these figures, but it agrees the programs are 
positively affecting poverty rates. World Bank figures show about a 
1% decrease in extreme poverty and a decrease of 3% in overall 
poverty rates since 2005, but is currently revising this data. 
 
 
 
¶10. (C) World Bank economists also told us that they estimate 
around $500-600 million (or 3% of GDP) enters the economy from 
narcotics profits. They note that some estimates range up to $1 
billion, but there is little proof of such. The World Bank believes 
that recent economic growth can be accounted for through mining, 
hydrocarbons, and the informal economy. The World Bank does not see 
evidence of an exorbitant amount of drug money floating through the 
banking system and believes that the majority of profits from 
processing and exporting the coca go to foreign cartels who control 
the process. The money that stays in Bolivia is mostly due to the 
sale of the coca leaf and little of the added value remains here. 
Still, they agreed that it is important to continue to monitor the 
issue. 
 
 
 
¶11. (SBU) COMMENT. With the stage set for a relatively stable 
economic situation in Bolivia in 2010, Morales will have more 
leeway to continue with his economic policies. Having already 
nationalized gas transport and telecommunications, he will likely 
continue with his announced plans of nationalizing the electric 
sector and possibly the railways, focusing on those companies that 
were partially privatized under previous governments. The large 
reserves provide a cushion to finance such actions if needed. He 
will also continue with social programs to help needy portions of 
the population. It will likely be 3-4 years before the effects of 
the slowdown in international investment will show up in the 
economic data. END COMMENT. 
Creamer