The facility will benefit families who collect Amazon fruits, harvesting them as input for the
national food and pharmaceutical industries and are also exported to neighboring markets. (Photo: abi.bo/ Message from the President
La Paz, 10/11. (RHC) Bolivia will invest 184 million Bolivians ($26 million) to build an “Amazonian superfruit” industrial plant and 1,175 houses in Pando Department, President Luis Arce assured this Tuesday.
In his speech commemorating the 120th anniversary of the Battle of Bahia in this northern area, the President highlighted the potential to produce native Amazon fruit varieties such as açaí and cupuaçu.
He emphasized that Pando is the producer of the “largest amount” of Amazonian food and the industrialization of this commodity has been a demand of its residents for many years.
“For this reason, we guarantee the resources for 95 million Bolivians (about 13 million dollars) for the implementation of a fruit variety plant and its industrialization (…) in the Bolivian Amazon, in the municipality of Puerto Rico,” he said.
He described that the new company will have an annual processing capacity of 9,500 tons of fruit to produce around 765 tons of pulp and more than 120 tons of lyophilized extract.
From a social point of view, he stressed, this complex will benefit more than 1,700 families who collect Amazonian fruit, the crops of which are intended as input for the national food and pharmaceutical industries and are also exported to neighboring markets.
The Bolivian Food and Derivatives Company (EBA) of the Ministry of Productive Development and Pluralistic Economy has issued a public call to hire the body responsible for the building, it was reported.
In this regard, Arce explained that the Bolivian Amazon is rich in açaí, copoazú, sinini, acerola and mayo, among other “superfruits” with great industrial potential for their nutritional and pharmacological properties.
“These superfruits contain antioxidants, vitamins C and A, omega 3,6,9, potassium, calcium, iron, among others, which reduce the effects of aging, prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases and boost the immune system,” he explained dignitaries . .
In terms of territorial production potential, he reported that more than 60 percent of Pandina exports are chestnuts, which in turn account for more than 25 percent of agricultural sales abroad at the national level.
Pando excels in the production of citrus, tubers, cereals, lemon, grapefruit and corn, among others.
Regarding housing, the head of state announced spending on this item of more than 89 million Bolivianos (nearly $13 million) in this Amazon department.
There is a plan for the delivery of 1,175 houses as part of the national development, which was ratified in the honorary session commemorating the 120th anniversary of the Battle of Bahia. (Source:PL)