on 10 february 2010, president evo morales signed a decree establishing the bolivian space agency as a government agency under the jurisdiction of the ministry of public works, services and housing. the agency was tasked with promoting and developing satellite projects, and implementing their application in education, health and weather forecasting programs. the abe began with a modest initial budget of us$1million, with the bolivian government planning to seek further funding through donations and loans from china and other countries.