Bolivian Government analyzes possibility of purchasing vessels from Astillero Río Santiago

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The President of Astillero Río Santiago, Pedro Wasiejko, received today the Minister of Defense of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Edmundo Novillo Aguilar, with whom he analyzed the possibility of building in the Ensenada’s pluvial plant vessels for the Bolivian Navy to navigate the rivers of the East and the Amazon of his country.

In a press release, it was indicated that the Astillero Río Santiago made available its productive capacity and showed the Bolivian authorities the project called Lanchas de Instrucción para Cadetes (Cadet Training Boats – LICA), an innovative proposal of the region developed integrally in the plant, with which it also seeks to equip the Argentine Navy.

“From Astillero Río Santiago, there is a commitment to provide solutions to the defense needs of the brother country of the Plurinational State of Bolivia”, said Wasiejko, who was expectant about the possibility of advancing with the conversations.

“One of the main tasks of the administration is to finish the pending works and during the rest of this year to sign new contracts so that the shipyard can recover the vitality of the past”, said the president of Río Santiago.

For his part, the Bolivian official expressed that, within the framework of the cooperation, integration, and brotherhood agreement with Argentina, they are “seriously considering the potential” of the naval industry “to build ships that can be adapted to the navigable rivers we have in the east and the Amazon”.

The meeting was also attended by the Argentine ambassador in Bolivia, Ariel Basteiro, who highlighted the visit of the Bolivian Minister of Defense because “they have come with the interest of acquiring from the shipyard the project of ships for the training of cadets which would be very useful for Bolivia,” he said.

“It is not a protocol visit, but there is an interest in buying vessels”, he said.

The meeting was also attended by Francisco Cafiero, Secretary of International Affairs for the Ministry of Defense, who considered that “regional integration is fundamental and in defense matters we are taking steps to strengthen bilateral ties with Bolivia”.

Jorge Ramiro Tapia Sainz, Ambassador of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in Argentina; high commanders of the Bolivian Armed Forces; Mario Secco, Mayor of Ensenada; Fabián Cagliardi, Mayor of Berisso, authorities of the shipyard and Francisco Banegas, General Secretary of ATE Ensenada also participated.

With information from Télam