Bolivia Courts Turkey for Mining Investment

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz announced “preacuerdos”, or preliminary agreements, with Turkey on mining, hydrocarbons (oil and gas) and technology on Saturday, 14 November 2026, Los Tiempos, a Cochabamba daily, reported. El Deber noted that no amounts, companies or deadlines were given.

Bolivia holds 23 million tons of estimated lithium resources (measured and indicated), third in the world behind the United States and Argentina, according to the US Geological Survey’s 2026 Mineral Commodity Summaries. No lithium deal was announced, and Bolivia’s investment law is one of three laws Paz says he will reform this year to guarantee investors’ rights.

What Paz Announced

Paz ended his official agenda in Turkey with a video on social media, El Deber, a Santa Cruz daily, reported on 14 November 2026. He said Bolivia had “generated pre-agreements to carry out mutual benefits”, as Los Tiempos quoted, carrying ABI, Bolivia’s state news agency.

Paz told a Turkey-Bolivia round table run by DEİK, Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board: “This year we will complete all the necessary reforms of our investment, mining and hydrocarbons laws.” Unitel, a Bolivian outlet, carried the quote from Spain’s EFE agency, citing Anadolu, Turkey’s state news agency, on 14 November 2026.

The aim is legal guarantees for international investors, Infobae, a Spanish-language news site, reported on 14 November 2026. Paz proposed technology transfer, training for Bolivian professionals and partnerships that add value to Bolivian goods, which he said could reach European and Asian markets.

What Turkey Said

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Paz at the Dolmabahçe presidential office in Istanbul on Saturday, 14 November 2026, Daily Sabah, a Turkish daily, reported. The talks were closed to the press, and Erdoğan called Bolivia “an important partner in Latin America”, TRT World, the English-language service of Turkey’s state broadcaster, reported, citing the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Directorate, its press office.

Erdoğan stressed cooperation in the defence industry and said the countries could take further steps in areas with significant potential, particularly mining. Agreements under discussion rest on a “win-win” approach that would strengthen the legal framework between the two countries, TRT World said, crediting Anadolu.

Daily Sabah reported on 14 November 2026 that the Bolivian delegation toured Turkish defence firms, including the aircraft maker Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) and the defence electronics company ASELSAN. The paper listed energy, mining, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and defence industries as key areas of potential cooperation.

Why It Matters

Bolivia would gain if clearer laws bring capital and technology to its mines and gas fields, and Turkish firms would find openings there. Daily Sabah noted on 14 November 2026 that Bolivia’s lithium and other mineral resources offer opportunities for Turkish firms.

Daily Sabah reported that bilateral trade was about US$820 million in 2025 and that both sides want it above US$1 billion. Paz framed his promised law reforms as the legal guarantee that international investors need.

What to Watch Next

Paz arrived in Turkey on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, for COP31, the UN climate summit in Antalya, Prensa Mercosur, a regional news site that credits Correo del Sur, a Sucre daily, reported on 11 November. The report said Bolivia sought funds for forests and against illegal mining, and the summit closes on Friday, 20 November 2026, per Daily Sabah.

The second checkpoint is Paz’s own deadline of the end of 2026 for the investment, mining and hydrocarbons reforms, quoted by Unitel on 14 November. Paz took office on 8 November 2025, ending nearly two decades of rule by the left-wing MAS party, Daily Sabah noted.

What Is Not Known

Neither Los Tiempos nor El Deber reported amounts, companies or deadlines for the pre-agreements. Correo del Sur reported on 10 August 2026 that a new investment law was due in the Legislative Assembly, Bolivia’s Congress, on Tuesday, 11 August, while the 2014 investment promotion law, Law 516, was then in force.

Presidential spokesman José Luis Gálvez was quoted as saying the investment law would be “the first” of a series, with no sending date for the mining and hydrocarbons drafts. We could not confirm the current status of any bill, and the Turkish statement stresses defence while Paz stressed mining, hydrocarbons and technology.

Samuel Doria Medina, leader of the opposition party Unidad Nacional, said that the investment bill apparently went straight from the Economy Ministry to the Assembly because the Cabinet had not approved it, eju.tv, a Bolivian news site, reported on 12 August 2026. His remarks concern how the bill travelled, not the Turkey talks.

What It Means for You

For investors, nothing is contractual yet, so this is a signal of intent and not a deal. The published texts of the three laws would show what guarantees foreign investors get.

For travellers and business visitors, none of the reports we reviewed mentions a travel or entry rule. Official announcements will show if that changes.

Related coverage: see our report on the Bolivian central bank and bank repayments and our report on World Bank budget support for Bolivia. More is on our Bolivia news page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Bolivia and Turkey agree?

Paz said on 14 November 2026 that Bolivia and Turkey reached preliminary agreements on mining, hydrocarbons and technology. No amounts, companies or deadlines have been published.

Did Bolivia sign a lithium deal with Turkey?

No lithium deal has been announced. Paz described only pre-agreements, and no signed text, company or amount has been reported.

When did Paz meet Erdoğan?

Erdoğan received Paz at the Dolmabahçe presidential office in Istanbul on Saturday, 14 November 2026. The talks were closed to the press.

Is Bolivia changing its mining law?

Paz said on 14 November 2026 that Bolivia would complete reforms of its investment, mining and hydrocarbons laws this year. We could not confirm the current status of the bills.