Bolivia's Industry Chamber Proposes Recovery Fund, Family Bonus and New Investment Law

The Bolivian National Chamber of Industries (CNI) unveiled a National Economic Reactivation and Employment Plan aimed at mitigating the fallout from over 40 days of blockades. The plan includes a Bs 3.5 billion recovery fund that would provide a one‑time Bs 1,000 bonus to roughly 3.5 million families without fixed incomes, on the condition that purchases are made from Bolivian‑produced goods. An additional Bs 13.9 billion would be allocated to productive credit to support firms, prevent layoffs and spur investment, with financing to be routed through multilateral lenders such as the IDB, CAF and the World Bank and require legislative approval. Short‑term measures propose tax and credit deferrals and electricity‑consumption incentives, while a long‑term component calls for a new Investment Law to guarantee legal stability for contracts. The CNI estimates the package could recover 1 %–1.5 % of the GDP loss and cut seasonal unemployment from 15 %–20 % to about 4 %. Business leader Samuel Doria Medina praised the proposal, urging complementary support for the poorest.

The plan is intended to be implemented in phases, with immediate consumption‑stimulus actions, medium‑term credit support and a legislative push for the investment‑law reforms.