Working for the comprehensive development of the Bolivia-Peru border

In order to promote the integration and development across borders in the Madre de Dios Amazon region, the CAF delegation, led by the Director of Regional initiatives (DIR), Ana Maria Sanjuan, and the Representative in Peru, Manuel Malaret, organized a Workshop on Productive Plans and Projects of the Bolivia-Peru Amazonian Border Integration Area at the Madre de Dios Chamber of Commerce on April, 29.

The current situation of the region main productive sectors (chestnut, Amazonian fruits, tourism and fish farming) was among the main topics discussed in the multidisciplinary work groups. In addition, there was a debate on how to promote binational chains. Similarly, CAF specialists from the Vice President of Sustainable Development, the Vice President of Infrastructure and the Vice President for the Private Sector, were in charge of analyzing the infrastructure needs of the area, the challenges of urban areas, and the existing opportunities for the private sector.

This workshop, which received the support of the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its coordination, is part of a series of meetings the DIR will hold, both on the Peruvian and Bolivian border, in order to jointly make progress in the development challenges of the area. Attendees came from various public sector and civil society players, including mayors from different districts in the Madre de Dios region, as well as local and regional organizations.

Another meeting was also organized on April 30 with the regional productive CITE, where different specialists presented the projects that are being designed and implemented in the region in the different productive sectors. Later on, CAF representatives also attended a meeting with the Madre de Dios Chamber of Commerce, where they learned in detail about the situation and, particularly, the obstacles to the productivity in the commercial and logistic sectors.

In conclusion, these two days of work allowed participants to identify opportunities for the integration of the area, as well as the challenges faced by various sectors -public, private and civil society- for the comprehensive development of the region borders.