International Trade
Cargo that has arrived at Puerto Cabello
- 2,974 tons in 266 containers bearing construction
materials and mixer trucks from China's Duowei Union Group and Sany
Automobile for the Venezuelan Foreign Trade Corporation.
- 2,759 tons in 110 containers bearing milk and
frozen beef from Eskimo, Centrolac, Productos Lácteos La Perfecta,
Industria Comercial San Martín, Nova Terra y Exportadora San Andrés.
- 1,767
tons of milk from Sancor Cooperativas Unidas for state agency Corporación
Venezolana de Comercio Exterior (CORPOVEX)
- 1,752 tons of doors and Windows from Catic
Beijing for state agency CORPOVEX.
- 1,134 tons of personal care products such as
shampoo, sanitary napkins and diapers sent by Procter & Gamble to
their Venezuelan affiliate.
- Over 1,079 tons of maize seed from Colombia for state
agency AGROPATRIA and 850 tons from Montesano Comercial for CORPOVEX.
- 155 tons of auto parts sent by China's Chery
Automobile to Corporación ZGT.
- Over 121 tons of frozen beef from Loma Bonita
S.A.
- 67 tons of frozen beef from Frigorífico Gorina
Saic. for state agency Banco del Tesoro
Logistics
& Transport
Zulia port operations down 67% due to drop in imports
Ship arrivals in Zulia state are reported to have
dropped from 60 to 10, and the Naval Association says difficulties for
importers in acquiring FOREX is the main reason. Port activity in the region
dropped 67% during the first quarter this year, says Gonzalo Fernández,
President of the Zulia State Naval Association (ASONEZ), adding: "Sea transport does not escape the nation's real situation. Trade is
lower each year. We have lost markets in North America, Central America and
Europe". Weekly routes are now
every 15 days. Ships that are over 495 feet long no longer arrive. Exports are
also down drastically. From 1,100 containers that used to go out of Zulia,
bearing items such as shrimp, crabs, plantains, asphalt and chemicals, they are
now down to 20 at the most. He reports that 85% of containers stranded at the
port are from the public sector. Activity by customs agents is down 30% since
companies to not get the FOREX needed for imports. The worsening situation
endangers 40,000 direct jobs and 300,000 indirect ones. Trade in Zulia has had
a 90% drop in inventories during the first quarter this year, according to
Gilberto Gudiño, of the UCEZ, who adds there is 75% scarcity in vehicle spare
parts and 90% scarcity of auto parts needed to assemble vehicles, as well as
90% scarcity in beef. Fernández, of ASONEZ, also says there is a serious
problem with sediments in the navigation channel in Zulia, as 19 months have
gone by with no dredging by the National Canalization Institute at Maracaibo's
port. 15 years ago the channel was 42.5 feet deep and it is now 35.1 feet so
ships cannot be loaded at full capacity. More in Spanish: (La Verdad, http://www.laverdad.com/economia/72896-operaciones-portuarias-disminuyen-67-por-caida-en-las-importaciones.html)
Oil &
Energy
Venezuela's income from crude oil sales to the US cut
by half
Venezuela's income from crude oil sales to the US in
January and February this year were US$ 2.156 billion, a 54% drop from last
year, according to the US Department of Commerce. More in Spanish: (El Mundo, http://www.elmundo.com.ve/noticias/petroleo/pdvsa/ingresos-por-ventas--de-crudo-a-eeuu-caen-mas-de-l.aspx#ixzz3WnxKa6eW)
PDVSA to pay interest to bond holders
State oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) says
that on April 13h it will pay holders of PDVSA bonds 2017, 2027, and 2037 interests
accrued for the six-month period ending in April this year. PDVSA says payments
are to be made "in compliance with
the predefined conditions of the bonds issued on April 12, 2007." Bond
holders must go to the bank or financial institution where they purchased the
bonds in order to get information about their status and how the payment would
be settled. (El
Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/economia/150408/pdvsa-pays-interests-to-bond-holders)
Venezuela links EXXON presence in disputed zone to
Obama Executive Order
Venezuela’s government claims a subsidiary of U.S. oil
giant ExxonMobil is carrying out “unauthorized”
operations in disputed waters off Guyana and linked them to Washington’s recent
diplomatic steps against Caracas. “The
actions of (Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd.), with its intention to
carry out unauthorized operations within the maritime territory adjoining
Venezuela, contradict public international law and show its intent to subvert
it,” says Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry. The ministry says it sent a letter
to the head of that Exxon unit, Jeff Simon, reiterating its rejection of the
company’s intentions and asserting that they violate bilateral obligations
signed by Guyana and Venezuela. (Latin American Herald Tribune, http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2382782&CategoryId=10717;
Veneconomy, http://www.veneconomy.com/site/index.asp?ids=44&idt=43413&idc=4;
El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/150409/venezuelan-fm-rejects-exxon-mobils-meddling-in-disputed-area)
US will finance energy projects in the Caribbean
On his way to the Summit of
the Americas meeting in Panama, US President Barack Obama met with the heads of
state of member nations within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and announced
his country will make an initial contribution of US$ 20 million for public and
private investment renewable energy projects in the Caribbean. He said the
nations in the region need access to "cleaner"
and "more affordable"
energy. More in
Spanish: (El
Universal; http://www.eluniversal.com/internacional/150410/eeuu-financiara-proyectos-de-energia-en-el-caribe;
Ultimas Noticias, http://www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/noticias/actualidad/mundo/eeuu-invertira-20-millones-para-impulsar-energias-.aspx;
El Mundo, http://www.elmundo.com.ve/noticias/petroleo/energias/eeuu-invertira--20-millones-para-impulsar-energias.aspx)
PETROCARIBE inaugurated two new plants in the Eastern
Caribbean
PETROCARIBE has inaugurated a GLP cylinder filling
plant in Grenada and a fuel storage and distribution plant in Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines. The Grenada plant can store 1200 barrels of liquid oil gas; and
the Saint Vincent plant can store 34,000 barrels of fuel several tanks. More in Spanish: (PDVSA, http://www.pdvsa.com/; Ultimas Noticias, http://www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/noticias/actualidad/economia/fotos--inauguran-planta-de-gas-licuado-chavez-bish.aspx;
El Mundo, http://www.elmundo.com.ve/noticias/petroleo/gas/inauguran-planta-de-gas-licuado--chavez-bishop--en.aspx;
Agencia Venezolana de Noticias; http://www.avn.info.ve/contenido/inaugurada-planta-distribución-combustible-hugo-chavez-san-vicente-y-granadinas,
http://www.avn.info.ve/contenido/inauguran-planta-llenado-gas-grenada)
Commodities
Rice supply is in critical condition, says Fuad Kassen, head of Venezuela’s National Rice
Federation. Rice planted during the dry season is barely 60% of the amount
planted in the same cycle last year. Kassen also reports the sector is working
at a loss as it costs them Bs.15 to produce one kilogram and they barely get
Bs.8.60/kilogram. (Veneconomy, http://www.veneconomy.com/site/index.asp?ids=44&idt=43399&idc=3)
Economy
& Finance
For three months running Venezuela's Central Bank
(BCV) has failed to publish inflation figures (100
days without any figures, actually). It has also failed to publish shortage
indexes and GDP data as well as the components of the balance of payments. An
IMF mission was in the country just before Easter, trying to solve the lack of
transparency in Central Bank statistics to no avail. (Veneconomy, http://www.veneconomy.com/site/index.asp?ids=44&idt=43410&idc=2)
Tax reform may be enacted using special powers
President Nicolás Maduro has
announced his regime will enact a new fiscal reform using special powers
granted to him by the National Assembly. He did not enter into any details
about proposed changes. More in Spanish: (Ultimas Noticias, http://www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/noticias/actualidad/economia/ejecutivo-hara-reforma-fiscal-via-habilitante.aspx#ixzz3Wi1WZWtw; El Mundo, http://www.elmundo.com.ve/noticias/economia/politicas-publicas/ejecutivo-hara-reforma-fiscal-via-habilitante.aspx)
Politics and
International Affairs
Obama says Venezuela
is no threat to the US, Maduro indicates "new era" in bilateral relations
US President Barack Obama has said in an
interview that: “We do not believe that
Venezuela poses a threat to the United States, nor does the United States
threaten the Venezuelan government,” Obama said in an interview ahead of
this week’s VII Summit of the Americas in Panama. “But we do remain very troubled by the Venezuelan government’s efforts
to escalate intimidation of its political opponents, including the arrest and
prosecution of elected officials on political charges, and the continued
erosion of human rights". He
added that neither the United States nor any other member of the Inter-American
community “should remain silent”
about the situation in Venezuela, although he stressed that Washington “remains open to direct dialogue” with
Caracas. he said. Previously, veteran US diplomat Thomas A. Shannon, Jr., Counselor
to the US State Department, visited Caracas at the invitation of the Venezuelan
government and met with Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez. It was not confirmed
whether a planned meeting with President Nicolás Maduro took place. Shannon
delivered a message from the US for the Venezuelan government and Rodríguez
repeated the demand that President Obama´s Executive Order of March 9th -
terming Venezuela a "threat"
- should en repealed, according to a brief Foreign Ministry communiqué. Shannon
also met with leaders of the opposition Democratic Unity Conference (MUD). MUD
Executive Secretary Jesús Torrealba "welcomed"
the US initiative on "clarifying"
the terms of the Executive Order, and said they "are in favor of punishing those who violate human rights
worldwide, but oppose sanctions against
an entire nation". After Obama's statement, Venezuelan President
Nicolás Maduro went on national media
to say "this could at the moment
open a door to start a new historic era of relations between Venezuela, Latin
America and the US empire", but added that "we demand the dismantling of the war machine set up in the US Embassy,
which is directing the economic war, that has directed the attempt to divide
the Armed Forces, that directs the political and psychological warfare. That is
not an Embassy for diplomacy, it is a war machine against Venezuela, and it
isn't possible that way." (Latin American Herald
Tribune, http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2382921&CategoryId=10717;
El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/150409/obama-says-venezuela-is-not-a-threat-asks-for-direct-dialogue;
and more in Spanish: El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/150409/canciller-solicito-a-shannon-que-eeuu-derogue-el-decreto;
http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/150410/maduro-abrimos-una-nueva-era-de-relaciones-con-eeuu;
http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/150410/obama-sigue-abierto-el-dialogo-con-venezuela;
http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/150410/mesa-felicito-aclaratoria-de-washington-sobre-su-decreto;
El Nacional; http://www.el-nacional.com/;
Infolatam, http://www.infolatam.com/2015/04/08/canciller-venezolana-se-reune-con-consejero-de-eeuu-thomas-shannon-en-caracas/;
El Mundo, http://www.elmundo.com.ve/noticias/economia/politica/mud--estados-unidos-tendra-una-presencia-mas-activ.aspx)
Venezuela's demand on
US Executive Order blocks Summit consensus
Venezuela's demand on including a condemnation
of the US Executive Order on sanctions on 7 officials marked for violating
human rights and corruption may block a final consensus statement by heads of
state meeting at the 7th Summit of the Americas. Panama's Vice President and
Foreign Minister, Isabel de Saint Malo, will avoid publishing agreements
reached during the meeting in formal documents, and instead deliver them to
appropriate international organizations, such as the OAS, ECLAC and the Inter
American Development Bank. In lieu of a final statement, Panamanian President
Juan Carlos Varela will deliver a final "institutional statement". More in Spanish: (Infolatam, http://www.infolatam.com/2015/04/09/exigencia-venezolana-de-condenar-a-eeuu-impide-consenso-en-cumbre-americas/)
More than 25 former heads of State and
government from
America and Spain have presented the Panama Declaration, on the eve of the
Summit of the Americas. In it they decry “the
severe democratic and institutional, economic and social crisis affecting
Venezuela.” They also demand the release of Venezuela’s political prisoners
and the reestablishment of conditions for the exercise of fundamental rights. Spain's
former President José María Aznar read the statement, flanked by Mexico's
Felipe Calderón, Colombia´s Andrés Pastrana and Bolivia's Jorge Quiroga.
"Silence is equivalent to complicity", he said. (Veneconomy, http://www.veneconomy.com/site/index.asp?ids=44&idt=43412&idc=5;
El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/150409/former-presidents-and-leaders-ask-to-stop-silence-on-venezuela;
and more in Spanish: El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/internacional/150410/exigen-a-lideres-de-la-region-dejar-silencio-sobre-venezuela; Infolatam, http://www.infolatam.com/2015/04/09/25-ex-presidentes-firman-declaracion-en-defensa-de-la-libertad-en-venezuela/)
Venezuelan opposition
leader Carlos Vecchio met with Bill Clinton in Panama
A key leader of opposition party Voluntad
Popular, Carlos Vecchio, met with former US President Bill Clinton within the
framework of the 7th Summit of the Americas in Panama. The exiled leader said
he had the opportunity to thank "Clinton's
support in favor of the freedom of Leopoldo López and political prisoners in
Venezuela". (El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/150409/venezuelan-dissenter-carlos-vecchio-meets-with-bill-clinton-in-panama)
Mayor Ledezma indicted
for alleged conspiracy
Venezuela's Prosecutor General has indicted
opposition Caracas Metropolitan Mayor Antonio Ledezma for conspiracy, for
allegedly supporting violent groups seeking to create chaos in the country. (El
Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/150408/mayor-ledezma-indicted-for-alleged-conspiracy)
Colombia asks
Venezuela not to harm civilians on shared border
The Colombian government has asked Venezuelan
military authorities to avoid actions harming civilians who live at the border
between Colombia and Venezuela. On Wednesday, a Colombian citizen was shot when
seven fugitives were being chased by Venezuelan Marines. Five of the fugitives
were Colombian civilians who were held at the premises of the Marine Corps, Efe
reported. (El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/150409/colombia-asks-venezuela-not-to-harm-civilians-on-shared-border)
Former Justice Garzón:
Venezuela faces serious human rights issues
Spanish former Justice Baltasar Garzón says
Venezuela faces a serious situation of fundamental rights abuses, which should
be investigated. He says it is "fair"
that Spanish former socialist President Felipe González is defending two
Venezuelan opposition leaders held in custody. "There is undoubtedly a serious human rights issue in Venezuela; we can
see it every day," Garzón stressed. (El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/150409/former-justice-garzon-venezuela-faces-serious-human-rights-issues)
The following brief is a synthesis of the news
as reported by a variety of media sources. As such, the views and opinions
expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Duarte Vivas & Asociados and
The Selinger Group.
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