ALBA facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples' Trade Treaty Alianza Bolivariana para los Pueblos de Nuestra América – Tratado de Comercio de los Pueblos  (Spanish)
Emblem
Headquarters	Caracas
Official languages	Spanish English
Member states	10 full members  Antigua and Barbuda  Bolivia  Cuba  Dominica  Grenada  Nicaragua  Saint Kitts and Nevis  Saint Lucia  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  Venezuela   Pending full membership  Suriname   Observers  Haiti  Iran   Former members  Honduras  Ecuador
Leaders
• Secretary General	Jorge Arreaza
Establishment
• Cuba–Venezuela Agreement	14 December 2004
• People's Trade Agreement	29 April 2006
Area
• Total	2,513,337 km2 (970,405 sq mi)
Population
• 2008 estimate	69,513,221
• Density	27.65/km2 (71.6/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2008 estimate
• Total	$636.481 billion
• Per capita	$9,156
Currency	5 currencies Bolívar Boliviano Córdoba EC dollar Peso
Time zone	UTC-4 to -6
Internet TLD	10 TLDs .ag .bo .cu .dm .gd .ni .kn .lc .vc .ve

ALBA or ALBA–TCP is a group of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Its full name is the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples' Trade Treaty. It's an organization that helps these countries work together politically and economically.

ALBA was started in 2004 by Cuba and Venezuela. It focuses on helping countries grow together, sharing resources, and supporting each other. This is different from traditional trade agreements. The group aims for social well-being and mutual aid. Today, ten countries are full members of ALBA. These include Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Venezuela. Suriname joined as a guest country in 2012.

History of ALBA

Hugo Chávez, a founder of ALBA

The idea for ALBA came from the government of Venezuela, led by Hugo Chávez. He wanted to create an alternative to a large trade agreement proposed by the United States. This agreement was called the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). The FTAA never actually happened.

How ALBA Started

ALBA officially began on December 14, 2004. Presidents Chávez of Venezuela and Fidel Castro of Cuba signed an agreement. This agreement focused on exchanging important resources. Venezuela, which has a lot of oil, agreed to send oil to Cuba at good prices. In return, Cuba sent many doctors and teachers to help people in Venezuela. This also allowed Venezuelans to get special medical care in Cuba for free.

When it first started, ALBA only had two members: Venezuela and Cuba. Over time, more countries joined this "Peoples' Trade Agreement." This agreement helps put ALBA's ideas into action.

Countries Joining and Leaving

• Bolivia joined ALBA in 2006.
• Nicaragua became a member in 2007.
• Ecuador joined in 2009 but left in August 2018.
• Honduras joined in 2008 but left in 2010 after a political change.
• Several Caribbean nations also joined, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Saint Lucia.
• In December 2014, Grenada and Saint Kitts and Nevis became full members.
• Bolivia's government left ALBA in November 2019 during a political crisis. However, a new government in Bolivia rejoined the alliance in 2020.

In 2023, ALBA invited Russia to take part in the ALBA Games. This happened while Russia was facing international challenges.

Virtual Currency: The SUCRE

In October 2009, ALBA leaders decided to create a special virtual currency called the SUCRE. The goal was to have an independent money system for trade between member countries. By 2015, the SUCRE was being used for trade between Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

Important Meetings: Summits

ALBA leaders meet regularly at summits to discuss plans and make decisions. Here are some key meetings:

• The first summit was in Havana, Cuba, on December 14, 2004. This is when ALBA was founded.
• In April 2006, Bolivia joined the group at a summit in Havana.
• Nicaragua joined in January 2007 at a meeting in Managua.
• Dominica became a member in January 2008 at a summit in Caracas.
• Honduras joined in August 2008 in Tegucigalpa.
• Antigua and Barbuda, Ecuador, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines joined in June 2009.
• The SUCRE virtual currency was adopted in October 2009 in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
• Saint Lucia joined in July 2013 in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
• Grenada and Saint Kitts and Nevis joined in December 2014 in Havana.
• The 20th summit was held in December 2021 in Havana.
• The 24th summit is planned for December 2024 in Caracas to celebrate ALBA's 20th anniversary.

ALBA Member Countries

ALBA has full members, observer members, and some countries that were members in the past.

Full Members

These are the main countries that are part of ALBA:

Country	Join date	Capital City
Antigua and Barbuda	24 June 2009	St. John's
Bolivia	29 April 2006	Sucre
Cuba	14 December 2004	Havana
Dominica	20 January 2008	Roseau
Grenada	14 December 2014	St. George's
Nicaragua	11 January 2007	Managua
Saint Kitts and Nevis	14 December 2014	Basseterre
Saint Lucia	20 July 2013	Castries
St. Vincent and the Grenadines	24 June 2009	Kingstown
Venezuela	14 December 2004	Caracas

Observer Members

These countries attend ALBA meetings and participate in some activities, but are not full members:

Country	Capital City
Haiti	Port-au-Prince
Iran	Tehran

Former Members

These countries were once part of ALBA but have since left:

Country	Joined	Left	Capital City
Honduras	2008	2010	Tegucigalpa
Ecuador	2009	2018	Quito

Other ALBA Projects

A clickable Euler diagram showing the relationships between various multinational organizations in the Americasv • d • e

XIV ALBA-TCP summit, 2017

ALBA also supports other projects to help its member countries.

PetroCaribe

PetroCaribe was started in 2005. It helps Caribbean countries get oil from Venezuela at special, affordable prices. Many of these countries do not have their own oil. In return, they provide services or goods to Venezuela. For example, Cuba receives oil in exchange for sending medical doctors to Venezuela.

Other Energy Efforts

Cuba has worked with ALBA countries to improve energy use. Cuban social workers have traveled to many countries. They help develop projects that make energy use more efficient.

TeleSUR News Network

Launched in 2005, TeleSUR is a news network for the ALBA countries. It provides news and current events. It has an online TV channel and is a team effort by the governments of Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua.

PETROSUR Energy Alliance

PETROSUR is an energy partnership between oil companies from Venezuela, Argentina, and Brazil. Its goal is to use money from oil to fund social programs in these countries.

ALBA and Climate Change

ALBA also represents its member countries at international meetings about climate change. This happens when the countries agree on a common position. These meetings are part of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).

Clickable Euler diagram showing the Parties to the UNFCCC and the most common party negotition groups.

See also