Bolivia Gets Ratings Upgrade

Fitch has upgraded Bolivia’s rating to B+ from B. the outlook is stable. The rating upgrade reflects Bolivia’s strengthened fiscal and external balance sheets, the economic authorities’ demonstrated ability to preserve macroeconomic stability, as well as a recent track record of timely debt payments, Fitch says. The economy’s resilience was evidenced by a real GDP growth rate of 3.4% in 2009, while growth for 2010-2011 will remain above 4%, according to Fitch, driven by a recovery in external demand and a strengthening of consumption and public investment expenditure.