Press Release

Bolivian President visits OFID
Morales thanked OFID for its collaboration

46/2006 May 17, 2006, Vienna, Austria
Press inquiries:

HE Mr. Evo Morales, President of Bolivia, was warmly received last week by Mr. Jamal Nasser Lootah, Chairman of the Governing Board of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), and Mr. Suleiman J. Al-Herbish, Director-General of OFID. The President's delegation included several ministers and members of the diplomatic community.

After welcoming remarks by the Director-General, the delegation was invited to partake in a presentation covering OFID's activities in Bolivia. Mr. Morales expressed his thanks to OFID for its ongoing cooperation with the country in co-financing a number of projects, and that he had great respect for the collaboration between OFID Member Countries and Bolivia. He also conveyed his pleasure in witnessing the signature of a US$10.7 million loan agreement to support the rehabilitation and modernization of infrastructure and equipment at nine national universities located in the Departments of Santa Cruz, El Beni, Tarija, Potosí, La Paz, Chuquisaca, Pando, Cochabamba and Oruro. The loan was signed by HE David Choquehuanca Céspedes, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Bolivia.

This project, the President stated, would be an enormous help "to the brothers and sisters of Bolivia" and he emphasized the importance the country placed on improving the education sector. At a luncheon hosted by OFID, the President discussed his commitment to explore ways and means of enhancing OFID's development support to Bolivia.

This is the 16th loan OFID has approved for Bolivia. Previous loans include the provision of debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, while others helped finance projects in the transportation, agriculture, water supply and sewerage and health sectors. Additionally, five loans have been approved in support of the country's private sector. Bolivia has also been the recipient of several grants.

Mr. Morales and his delegation were in Vienna on the occasion of the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean, which was held last week.