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	~~{{Short description\|1=Diplomatic relations between the Plurinational State of Bolivia and the Republic of India}}~~
	{{Infobox Bilateral relations\|Bolivia–India\|Bolivia\|India}}		{{Infobox Bilateral relations\|Bolivia–India\|Bolivia\|India}}

181.188.160.109: /* Trade */The leyland deal failed. I was the person on ground for this deal in La Paz. Wrong information. Only mou was signed

2021-06-02T11:05:04Z

Trade: The leyland deal failed. I was the person on ground for this deal in La Paz. Wrong information. Only mou was signed

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{{Short description|1=Diplomatic relations between the Plurinational State of Bolivia and the Republic of India}}
{{Infobox Bilateral relations|Bolivia–India|Bolivia|India}}

'''Bolivia–India relations''' refers to the [[international relations]] that exist between [[Bolivia]] and [[India]].

==History==
The Embassy of India in [[Lima|Lima, Peru]] has been jointly accredited to Bolivia since April 1981. India also maintains honorary consuls general in [[La Paz]] and [[Santa Cruz, Bolivia|Santa Cruz]], although the latter is not currently functioning. Bolivia opened its embassy in [[New Delhi]] in 2012, and Jorge Cardenas Robles assumed office as the first resident Ambassador of Bolivia to India on 8 November 2012.<ref name="MEA2016">{{cite web|title=India – Bolivia Relations|url=https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/India_Bolivia_December_2016.pdf|website=Ministry of External Affairs|access-date=29 March 2017|date=December 2016}}</ref>

The first India-Bolivia Foreign Office Consultations were held in La Paz on 20 November 2014. Several ministerial level visits between the two countries have taken place.<ref name="MEA2016"/>

President Ram Nath Kovind was on a visit to Bolivia from March 28 to 30,2019. This was the first visit by an Indian president to Bolivia.

==Trade==
[[Bilateral trade]] between Bolivia and India totaled US$314.684 million in 2015–16. India exported $74.432 million worth of goods to [[Bolivia]], and imported $240.252 million in 2015–16.<ref name="MEA2016"/> The main commodities exported by India to Bolivia are automobiles, iron and steel, pharmaceuticals, machinery, rubber and plastic products and yarns and textiles. The major commodities imported by India from Bolivia are gold, leather and animal feed.<ref name="MEA2016"/>

The two countries are negotiating a BIPPA (Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement).<ref name="MEA2016"/>

Indian firm [[Jindal Steel & Power|Jindal Steel & Power Ltd.]] was awarded a contract to develop the [[El Mutún mine|El Mutun]] iron ore mine in 2007. The company announced that it would invest $2.3 billion to establish a steel plant, in what was the largest foreign direct investment in Bolivian history.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ronakdesai/2015/06/25/a-new-era-for-india-latin-america-relations/#d28943710e26|title=A New Era For India-Latin America Relations?|last=Desai|first=Ronak D.|work=Forbes|access-date=2017-03-29}}</ref> However, the company shut down the project in July 2012, accusing the Bolivian Government of not fulfilling "contract conditions".<ref>{{cite web|title=Naveen Jindal's Bolivia Exit - Another Lesson Learnt {{!}} Forbes India Blog|url=http://www.forbesindia.com/blog/business-strategy/naveen-jindals-bolivia-exit-another-lesson-learnt/|website=Forbes India|access-date=29 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="MEA2016"/> In August 2014, the [[International Chamber of Commerce]] ruled in favour of Jindal and ordered the state-owned mining company Empresa Siderúrgica del Mutún to pay Jindal $22.5 million in compensation.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dube|first1=Ryan|title=Bolivia to Appeal Ruling Favoring India's Jindal in El Mutún Dispute|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/bolivia-to-appeal-ruling-favoring-indias-jindal-in-el-mutun-dispute-1409074729|website=Wall Street Journal|access-date=29 March 2017|date=26 August 2014}}</ref>

Indian pesticides company UPL has an office in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.Indian car manufacturer [[Tata Motors]] retails its vehicles through an authorized dealer in Bolivia.<ref name="MEA2016"/>

==Defence==
In May 2009, the [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Indian Ministry of External Affairs]] turned down a request from Bolivia for a line of credit to purchase seven [[HAL Dhruv|HAL Dhruvs]] for the [[Bolivian Air Force]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shukla|first1=Ajai|title=MEA shoots down defence ministry's helicopter export|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/mea-shoots-down-defence-ministry-39-s-helicopter-export-109052300065_1.html|newspaper=Business Standard India|access-date=29 March 2017|date=23 May 2009}}</ref> Bolivian Defence Minister Reymi Ferreira and COFEDENA General Manager Col. Felipe Eduardo Vasquez Moya visited [[Goa]] in March 2016 to participate DEFEXPO 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Defence Expo 2016: For the first time, two Senior Ministers from Bolivia in India for bilateral cooperation|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/defence-expo-2016-for-the-first-time-two-senior-ministers-from-bolivia-in-india-for-bilateral-cooperation/articleshow/51603311.cms|website=The Economic Times|access-date=29 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Mitra|first1=Devirupa|title=Bolivia, On Hunt for Indian Investment, Wants to Close Chapter on Jindal Dispute - The Wire|url=https://thewire.in/27157/settlement-with-jindal-steel-almost-finished-says-bolivian-minister/|website=thewire.in|access-date=29 March 2017}}</ref>

==Cultural relations==
Bolivia and India signed an agreement on cultural co-operation in 1997.<ref name="MEA2016"/>

[[Bollywood]] films, music, and dance are popular in Bolivia. Bollywood dance academies (locally known as ''Danca-Indu'') and Indian dance groups are present in the cities of La Paz, [[Cochabamba]], [[Potosí]] and [[Oruro, Bolivia|Oruro]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bhandary|first1=Sachin|title=The Bollywood dancers of Bolivia|url=http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/xwCTYSPw1udIK7gFALEvzO/The-Bollywood-dancers-of-Bolivia.html|website=www.livemint.com/|access-date=29 March 2017|date=19 February 2016}}</ref>

According to a report by hotel bookings website [[Hotels.com]], Bolivian tourists spent the most money in India in the first six months of 2016, spending an average of {{INRConvert|12128}} during the period, 28% higher than they spent in the first 6 months of 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tourists from Bolivia spent most in India H1 of 2016: Report|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/tourists-from-bolivia-spent-most-in-india-h1-of-2016-report/1/850364.html|website=India Today|access-date=29 March 2017}}</ref>

==Foreign aid==
India provided financial support to install solar lighting at the [[Tiwanaku|Archaeological Complex of Tiwanaku]]. India donated $200,000 worth of medicines in the aftermath of landslides in Bolivia in 2007, and $100,000 cash in response to floods caused by [[La Niña]] in 2008. India provided Bolivia with $200,000 cash to deal with floods in the North and Central regions of the country in 2011.<ref name="MEA2016"/>

In September 2016, India donated $3.3 million to establish a center of excellence in technology in Bolivia. At the ceremony to sign the agreement, Bolivian President [[Evo Morales]] announced that the country would seek India's help to build its first ever pharmaceutical plant in the city of Cochabamba.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bolivia, India in talks to build $350 mn pharmaceutical plant|url=http://www.efe.com/efe/english/business/bolivia-india-in-talks-to-build-350-mn-pharmaceutical-plant/50000265-3041429|website=www.efe.com|access-date=29 March 2017|language=en}}</ref>

Citizens of Bolivia are eligible for scholarships under the [[Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme]] and the [[Indian Council for Cultural Relations]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Home > Partner Countries > Bolivia|url=https://www.itecgoi.in/Bolivia.php|website=Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation Programme|access-date=29 March 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521214311/http://www.itecgoi.in/Bolivia.php|archive-date=21 May 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="MEA2016"/>

In March 2019, 8 MoUs were signed between India and Bolivia, These MoUs were signed in the fields of culture, mining, visa waiver arrangement for diplomats, the exchange between diplomatic academics, space, traditional medicine, establishment of center of excellence in IT and Bi-Oceanic Railway projects.

==Indians in Bolivia==
As of December 2016, there are around 100 Indians in Bolivia. They are primarily involved in retail, transportation, agriculture, and religious communities.<ref name="MEA2016"/>

In March 2019, President of Bolivia Evo Morales Ayma honored His excellency Ram Nath Kovind with the highest state of honor of Bolivia 'Condor de Los Andres en el grado de Gran Collar' in Santa Cruz.

In March 2019, A Plaque of Mahatama Gandhi Hall was inaugurated by the president of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind at the Gabriel Rene Moreno University in Santa Cruz.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Foreign relations of Bolivia}}
{{Foreign relations of India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bolivia-India relations}}
[[Category:Bilateral relations of Bolivia|India]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of India]]

Bolivia–India relations - Revision history

imported>PrimeBOT: /* top */Task 30, removal of a template duplicated in an infobox, per this discussion

181.188.160.109: /* Trade */The leyland deal failed. I was the person on ground for this deal in La Paz. Wrong information. Only mou was signed