He mentioned that they also expect to hold the macro business round with Brazil next September, and a similar event with Central America and the Caribbean, as well as important entrepreneurial missions, such as the international fair in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia; Expo Prado, in Uruguay, and the international fairs in Havana and India.

“We can affirm that all this; together with Venezuela’s incorporation in Mercosur, and the positive effect that the agreements with the Andean Community of Nations (CAN) and the Common Market of the South will have on the country’s foreign trade, may enable us to achieve above six billion dollars in non traditional exports this year”, he said.

According to Alvarez, these would be unprecedented figures. We must remember that the initial goal is a 20% increase in 2004 compared to the 5.282 billion dollars at the close of 2003.

Non traditional exports include food, drinks, tobacco, coffee, cacao, plastics, and derivatives from the aluminum and steel sectors. The capital goods for the oil industry are also included.

“We have a sector that produces very competitive valves and compressors that will benefit from this type of opportunities. This year will be historical for Venezuelan non traditional exports” he said.

It is important to point out that the president of the National Statistics Institute (INE), Elías Eljuri, indicated that non traditional exports would close at 7 billion dollars this year.

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