Venezuelan President Calls for Dialogue With Private Sector, “Special Economic Zones” and...

[Catherina]

Venezuelan President Calls for Dialogue With Private Sector, “Special Economic Zones” and Streamlined Currency Exchange

By Ryan Mallett-Outtrim

Mérida, 26th April 2013 (Venezuelanalysis.com) – The Venezuelan government hopes to encourage more foreign investment and a better relationship with the business community, President Nicolas Maduro stated yesterday.

Announcing the creation of a “National Savings Fund for Foreign Exchange”, Maduro said the government hopes to make currency exchange easier not only for businesses, but also “travellers, students” and Venezuelans living abroad.

In a meeting with business leaders in Zulia state, Maduro indicated that changes to current currency controls are needed to “overcome the parallel dollar”.

He also invited the private sector to work more with the government to contribute to the “development of the productive forces and the country's economy”, and announced plans to create “Special Economic Zones” in some regions. These zones would be granted special tax conditions, as well as other incentives to encourage foreign investment. Although he gave few details, Maduro indicated that they would be modeled on those that developed during China's trade liberalisation of the 1980's.

Maduro stated that more details will be announced soon, and Finance Minister Nelson Merentes will hold a series of meetings with business leaders across the country from 2 May. The meetings will focus on issues related to currency exchange, though Maduro also stated that the government will prioritise tackling inflation.

“We are in a transition process towards building a socialist economic model that merits the promotion of a special plan of a productive economic revolution, and that includes the participation of different sectors,” he said.

Maduro described the private sector as having the financial and political freedom to participate in an “economic revolution” to raise productivity and self sustainability.

“We have a strong and powerful domestic market with purchasing capacity, because we have a population with job security, good income and strong wages...Now we need a production system to respond to this,” he said.

Published on Apr 26th 2013 at 12.23pm

This work is licensed under a Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives Creative Commons license

http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/8858

[Dawson Leery]

1. Maduro is the person to implement some needed reforms.

He will maintain the balance of power between state and the private sector.

[naaman fletcher]

3. What needed reforms? Nt

[ocpagu]

2. So glad to see Maduro is seeking reconciliation with the private sector.

Also in the article:

"We have a strong and powerful domestic market with purchasing capacity, because we have a population with job security, good income and strong wages...Now we need a production system to respond to this,” he said."

This is a point fequently ignored when people criticize the economic situation of Venezuela. There's no doubt that the Venezuelan domestic market was empowered in an unprecedented manner.

I'm also curious to learn more about these planned special economic zones. We got one in Manaus, Brazil, but it's hardly a good model... would love to know what they are thinking of doing.

[joshcryer]

4. LOL, so glad to see Maduro doing what Capriles proposed?

Am I in the fucking twilight zone here? What the fuck!

As Maduro implements more pro-capitalist policies in the future are all the revolutionary people going to just sit back and cheer him? Seriously? Is this happening?

[ocpagu]

5. Oh, just give up.

Your candidate was a fraud. The least thing he had in his mind is seeking reconciliation with anyone. It's confrontation what moves him. His thugs spent weeks attacking health care centers and public housing units. He should be locked in a jail by now.

And yes, Maduro has my support for reconciliation with the private sector. The private sector is important, they respond for 70% of the Venezuelan economy. I don't see him pushing for a fascist corporatocracy in Venezuela. And if someday he does it, he'll lose my support in the same minute.

[joshcryer]

6. Of course he does.

Just as Raul has support for returning Cuba back the private sectors, giving corporations 999 year leases, allowing the private sector to start their own businesses, etc.

Twilight zone I swear to fuck.

Maduro is going to do everything Capriles proposed and it'll be cheered.

[ocpagu]

7. ?

When did you become communist, again?

And what does Venezuela has to do with Cuba? Or Maduro has to do with Raul?

WTF are you talking about?

[joshcryer]

8. ?

I've always been a socialist since I signed up to DU, that's why I am critical of faux socialist states.

Venezuela and Cuba are socialist / communist in name only.