This article covers India's development partnership with Bolivia: humanitarian aid, grant-funded projects, training under ITEC, and cooperation in space, traditional medicine, information technology, railways and defence. It is based on the MEA bilateral brief of June 2026.

Development partnership

According to the MEA brief of June 2026, Bolivia is a beneficiary of India's development assistance and is keen to make India its development partner. During the visit of Foreign Minister Ms Celinda Sosa Lunda to New Delhi, the two Foreign Ministers signed an MoU on Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) on 20 March 2025.

Humanitarian assistance

The brief lists the following humanitarian assistance from India to Bolivia:

  • 2007: medicines worth US$ 200,000, gifted after landslides in Bolivia
  • 2008: US $ 100,000 in cash assistance after floods caused by the La-Niña phenomenon
  • 2011: a cash contribution of US$ 200,000 as a relief measure after floods in the north and central regions
  • August 2020: a medical aid package of 6.2 tonnes of critical medicines, including 300,000 Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) tablets, and protective gear, to combat the Covid-19 pandemic

India also provided humanitarian assistance in two phases in response to Amazon fires and floods. The first tranche of HADR items, consisting of firefighting equipment and rehabilitation items, was handed over by Ambassador Shri Vishwas Sapkal on 06 February 2025. The second tranche, of about 15 tons of essential supplies, was handed over by Ambassador Rohit Vadhwana on 26 April 2025.

On 21 July 2025, Ambassador Rohit Vadhwana handed over 300,000 doses of MR (Measles and Rubella) vaccines, with the supplies needed to administer them, at El Alto Airport, La Paz. Foreign Minister Ms Celinda Sosa Lunda, Minister of Health and Sports Ms. María René Castro Quisicanqui and Vice Minister Dr. Max Enriquez Nava attended the handover.

To help combat Amazon forest fires, the Indian Mission sent a proposal to the Ministry for providing assistance to Bolivia through satellite imagery, and the South America (SA) Division responded positively. According to the brief, contact details of a person from Bolivia have been shared to take this forward.

Grant projects

  • Tiwanaku Archaeological Site Project Phase I: a project to light the Tiwanaku Archaeological Site on the shores of Lake Titicaca was completed with the assistance of the Government of India, with a budget of US$ 31,000 under the "Aid to LAC" budget. The brief states that the project garnered significant appreciation.
  • Plazuela del Niño: a project for solar lighting of the Plazuela del Niño (Children's Park) in Sucre was completed with GoI assistance of US$ 62,880 under "Aid to LAC".
  • Beni Province: India extended support for financing a rural water management project in Beni Province under the IBSA fund.
  • India-UNDP Fund: a US$ 1mn project on social innovation hubs for laboral insertion and early childcare was completed from 2020-2022. According to the brief, it created infrastructure, capacity and skills, and contributed to gender equality and women's empowerment.

Training and capacity building

ITEC slots for Bolivia were doubled to 10 during the visit of the President of India to Bolivia in March 2019, and the brief states that courses under the ITEC programme are becoming popular among Bolivians. In 2025, seven ITEC slots were used by Bolivian candidates, and as of June 2026 a total of 60 Bolivian nationals had attended the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. Around 8 ITEC alumni from Bolivia took part in ITEC Day celebrations in November 2025.

Two Bolivian diplomats have taken part in the Professional Courses for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD), and another in the 4th Global South Young Diplomats programme in 2025.

Information technology

The Agreement between India and Bolivia for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Information and Communication Technologies (CENETIC) was signed in March 2019.

Space cooperation

The MoU between ISRO and ABE on cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes was signed in March 2019. Two officials of ABE attended UNNATI, a nano satellite training programme, at ISRO, Bangalore, from 15 October to 15 December 2019. The two sides subsequently shared Points of Contact (POCs), and the first meeting of the Joint Working Group on Space Cooperation was held on 15 September 2020.

Traditional medicine

Under the MoU on Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy, the Ministry of AYUSH held the 1st virtual meeting of the Joint Working Group with the Health and Sports Ministry of Bolivia on 12 October 2021. The Bolivian side was advised to share a proposal on a scientific study to evaluate the medicinal value of coca leaves. The 2nd meeting of the JWG was held on 17 February 2023.

Bi-Oceanic Railway Integration Corridor

The Bi-oceanic Railway Integration Corridor would link the Brazilian port of Santos with the Peruvian port of Ilo through Bolivia. The brief estimates the cost of developing the railway line in Peru and Bolivia at US$ 7.35 billion.

The two countries signed an MoU on Cooperation regarding the project during the State Visit of the then Indian President in March 2019. The Ministry of Railways is the nodal point on the Indian side. According to the brief, the Bolivian Government welcomed India's participation, and the Indian side is awaiting detailed proposals from the Bolivian side.

Defence

The then Bolivian Defence Minister, Reymi Ferreira, took part in Defexpo India in March 2016. The brief records this as the first time a Bolivian Defence Minister attended the event.