Microsoft founder Bill Gates is not only one of the richest men in the world with a net worth of $79.4 billion but also one of the most active philanthropists in the world who has particularly been active in a range of activities in the developing economies of the world. Most of his philanthropic activities are managed through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and since its launch back in 2000, Bill Gates' philanthropic activities have drawn univerasl praise from all over the world. However, the billionaire was in for a rude shock recently when Bolivian authorities rejected his offer of 100,000 free chickens stating that the offer was 'offensive' and further went on to state there is absolutely no shortage of chickens in the country that would require the immediate help of the philanthropist.
Bolivia was one of the many countries that had been shortlisted as a part of the 'Coop Dreams' initiative in which the foundation was supposed to donate chickens in collaboration with Heifer International, however it is now clear that the Minister of Land and Rural Development Cesar Cocarico was not amused by the offer. According to a report in the daily Financial Times, the minister is quoted as saying, "He does not know Bolivia's reality to think we are living 500 years ago, in the middle of the jungle not knowing how to produce.Respectfully, he should stop talking about Bolivia, and once he knows more, apologize to us."
Gates had launched the inititative earlier this month but it seems that including Bolivia in the program was a bit of a miscalculaton. According to a report on the website Verve, "Bolivia's government, led by anti-imperialist president Evo Morales, says the South American nation already produces 197 million chickens annually, and has the capacity to export 36 million. Bolivia's pride is justified: the country's economy has nearly tripled in size over the last decade, with its GDP per capita jumping from $1,200 in 2006 to $3,119 in 2015. The IMF predicts that Bolivia's economy will grow by 3.8 percent in 2016, making it the best performer in South America."
