Rising global prices for Bolivia's natural gas and minerals are pushing the country's foreign exports to record levels.Government figures released this week show that the value of goods shipped abroad jumped 58 percent this year. A report published Sunday by the National Statistics Institute shows Bolivian exports swelling to more than US$2 billion in the first four months of the year — up from US$1.3 billion for the same period in 2007.

But Bolivian economists caution that the increase is simply a result of sky-high commodity prices and does not necessarily signify economic growth.

The National Chamber of Commerce announced last week that direct foreign investment in Bolivia fell 41 percent in 2007 to US$164 million.

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