#g-77

G-77: Physical benefits and Prestige 

A description of the G-77 Summit meeting held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia this year, and why it was so important to the city. 

Bolivian student Torrez Rojas Zulmarina and University of Arkansas students Fabian Monasterio and Rachel Yeager contributed to this report.

By Amanda Simmons 

            SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia – The 50th anniversary meeting of the G-77 summit was in Santa Cruz this year, making Bolivia a showcase for more than 100 countries.

            Originally consisting of 77 countries, the G-77 now has 133 members mostly from the developing Southern hemisphere that support each other within the United Nations.

            The summit was a chance for Bolivia to impress the world’s presidents, ambassadors and leaders with the strides the country has taken to modernize. 

            “We want to sell to the world that we are a peaceful country, a country with a lot of options in economic investment, tourism and obviously to show off our city,” said Reymi Ferriera, the coordinator of G-77. 

Reymi Ferriera, the coordinator of the G-77 Summit meeting in Bolivia. 

            Although it was the group’s 50th anniversary, this meeting wasn’t just a celebration. The leaders discussed important topics, such as achieving universal primary education and gender equality. It also focused on how to reduce child mortality, hunger and poverty. The nation’s leaders were looking at strategies and solutions to these developmental problems in this year’s summit.

            Because so many foreign countries were visiting, Bolivia has spent more than $70 million preparing the city for its guests.

            “But almost all of that money will stay in the city,” Ferriera said.

            The city has improved things such as Wi-Fi connectivity, hotels, convention centers, security and rebuilding the road from the airport to the city. All of which, Ferriera said, is an investment for Bolivia and something that will stay long after the summit.

            Three weeks before the summit, the city was getting a face-lift. Workers were re-painting graying columns to a pristine white, men were hooking themselves to telephone poles to check on the service and major walkways were being re-tiled around the city’s central plaza. The road from Santa Cruz’s Viru Viru airport to the heart of the city was dangerously filled with potholes, making heads feel like jackhammers. A couple weeks later, it was a completely different drive. Smooth and steady, ready for traffic.

Santa Cruz workers take a break from constructing the road from the Viru Viru airport to the city center. The sign reads, "Sorry for the inconvenience!"

            The physical evidence of the city’s construction was everywhere. The coordinator explained that the money spent on G-77 was broken down in three ways including:

 $21 million invested in infrastructure. The roadway from the airport to the city and the renovation of Santa Cruz’s second airport took most of this money.

$10 million for the commercial aspects, such as renovating hotels, convention centers and cars.

$40 million on four helicopters called Super Pumas. These were for the transportation of the foreign leaders while they were in town. All of them will stay in Bolivia after the summit.

            Santa Cruz has hosted two other international summits: The Summit of the Americas in 1996, and the Ibero-American summit in 2003. Since then, Bolivia has been growing and with these physical improvements officials said they are ready to show off their city.

            Residents of Santa Cruz also are hopeful that the country will continue to benefit from the honor after hosting the summit.

            “It is one of the most important events that is happening in our region of the country,” said Guillermo Rivero, a retired journalist. “Overall, it will mark a new era.”

  Bolivian student Torrez Rojas Zulmarina and University of Arkansas students Rachel Yeager and Fabian Monasterio contributed to this report.