Bolivian Ambassador Jorge Balcazar Aranibar, who finishes his assignment and departs for home July 31, believes the seeds have been sown for a stronger relationship with Japan.
"I'm very pleased with what we have achieved in the past three years in not only political and diplomatic relations but also in the area of trade and investment," Balcazar told The Japan Times July 30. "For Bolivia, it's very important to attract foreign investment as well as to increase exports," he said. "And I think we have planted seeds for Japan's investment in Bolivia."
He said that during his three-year assignment, many Japanese companies have shown interest in Bolivian industries, especially in the mining sector, and have established offices in hopes for their future investments. Japan's major trading firms, as well as natural resource developers, organized a tour to Bolivia last year, seeking business chances in the Andean country.