The Bolivian Ambassador to Peru announced that binational negotiations are at the evaluation stage, with technical, administrative, and financial factors being assessed, but that there is no deadline for the completion of this.

Gustavo Rodríguez, Bolivian Ambassador to Peru, reported that Bolivia is in negotiations (in Spanish) with Peru regarding the use of a seaport for Bolivia’s imports and exports via the Pacific Ocean.

The ambassador argued that the sustained growth of the Bolivian economy has generated an enormous volume of imports and exports in terms of both value and weight, and that these “can no longer be handled by ports in Chile.”

He also stated that these binational negotiations are at the evaluation stage, with technical, administrative, and financial factors being assessed, but that there is no deadline for the completion of this.

From Bolivia’s perspective, the use of Chilean ports is problematic since, it is argued, the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1904 is frequently violated, causing enormous economic damages for Bolivian exporters, importers, transportation companies, and businesspeople who make use of these Chilean ports. This is the motivation behind the country’s negotiations with Peru.

According to the ambassador, President Evo Morales (Bolivia) and President Ollanta Humala (Peru) are following the project with interest.