When engaging with the presentation, the following information was provided to the delegation: . The delegation was informed that the unemployment rate has been reduced from 8.5 to 6.5 per cent. . Bolivia is open to joint ventures but partners must comply with the mining legislation of the country. . The country did not benefit when the mines were privatized but benefits are starting to be realized since the renationalization of the mines. Therefore there is a plan to nationalize more mines but a study to identify mines to be nationalized is underway. . The cooperatives are self-managed and their purpose is to work in an organized manner. The government is supporting them by providing the required machinery for them to get involved in mining. . Comibol is structured as follows: at the top there is management that is followed by directors and the third tier is the internal organization that is involved in production. . The mining legislation applies to all involved in mining, including the State-owned Company, private companies, cooperatives and small miners. . Income from royalties is distributed as follows: 85 per cent goes to departments (provinces) and the remaining 15 per cent goes to municipalities. . Bolivia is currently at a stage of producing and exporting raw materials. The next stage is going to be the exportation of beneficiated goods. . The majority of members of the commission have a union background and in accordance with the law, unionists cannot be prosecuted for carrying out their duties. . Women participation in mining is minimal because of the nature of work and is limited to administrative work. . Royalties and taxes are determined by the mining laws of the country, which established percentages. . The current revision of the mining laws is going to include environmental management. The commission was in return briefed by the South African delegation on the environment related mining laws which are designed to mitigate the environmental damage caused by mining. 4.2.3. Meeting with the National Chamber of Commerce