Bolivia - Slow pace of change bothers president
El Universal Daily (Venezuela) (8/21/06)
Bolivian president Evo Morales, who came to power seven months ago promising structural changes that would pull Bolivia out of poverty, expressed his exasperation with the slow implementation of his plans. As a result, he announced a series of measures aimed at encouraging foreign investment. After two days of governmental self-evaluation, during which he shared reports and analyses with almost one hundred bureaucrats, including ministers, vice ministers, and vice-president Álvaro García, the president identified the bureaucracy as his biggest obstacle. In attempt to accelerate progressive changes, Morales announced that, in the next few days, the government would present a legal project to de- bureaucratize the government and approval process for projects. Morales also approved an ambitious development plan that anticipates public investment of 12.6 billion dollars through the year 2011. In addition, Morales admitted that his "agrarian revolution" was being delayed due to lack of consensus with the business community I think.