Misión Verdad
Venezuelan delegation at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
Venezuela participated in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum held from June 5 to 8 in the Russian city of the same name. The 27th edition of the Spief was attended by representatives from 136 countries and its central theme was “The basis of a multipolar world. Formation of new points of growth”.
The high-level Venezuelan delegation was led by the sectoral vice-president of Economy and Minister of Industries and National Production, José Félix Rivas Alvarado. Also participating were the Minister of Tourism, Alí Padrón; the Minister of Productive Agriculture and Lands, Wilmar Castro Soteldo; the head of the Venezuelan Central Bank, Calixto Ortega; the Venezuelan Ambassador to Moscow, Jesús Salazar; and the Director of the PDVSA Russia subsidiary, Hoglys Martínez.
We participate in the Saint Petersburg Economic Forum in #Russia carrying the voice of #Venezuela. Important alternative geopolitical and economic space that allows us to expose our resistance to the blockade from the productive dynamics of the #PowerPopular. pic.twitter.com/cTZL6atcZa
— Guy Vernáez Hernández (@GuyVernaez) June 5, 2024
The forum, which has been held annually since 1997, has become the main international platform for contact between Russian entrepreneurs and developing markets and the world in general. Venezuela has been participating in this event since 2013, both in the business program and in the thematic and dialogue sessions.
The forum, which has been held annually since 1997, has become the main international platform for contact between Russian businessmen and developing markets and the world in general. Venezuela has been participating in this event since 2013, both in the business program and in the thematic and dialogue sessions.
The occasion was propitious to include in the agenda the process of de-dollarization that is advancing with the new emerging power architectures, more democratic and with a multipolar vision. According to Alexandr Schetinin, Director for Latin America of the Russian Foreign Ministry, his country is holding talks on the de-dollarization of trade relations with Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
The diplomat said that Moscow is promoting the use of national currencies to de-dollarize trade with Latin America. He also announced that “there are advances” in this sense.
Prior to the event, Venezuelan congressman Jesús Faría said that “Russia represents a large regional economic block with new business expectations for different countries”, which is why the Spief is an opportunity to “overcome barriers and debate on the threats and economic challenges of the world”.
Venezuela and Russia share the common vision of the need to establish the basis for another model of cooperation. That is why Faría stressed the importance of closer ties between both countries: “Our relationship with Russia is based on integration and complementarity, and it is a way for both countries to work together.
Within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Venezuela and Russia consolidated the alliance in economic matters. In this sense, the Minister pointed out that Russian companies contribute to the economic development of the country, both in the oil and gas area and in the supply of wheat. He recalled that the Eurasian country supplies 60 tons of wheat to Venezuela every month.
The Venezuelan President is expected to travel to Russia after the July 28 presidential elections. This was announced by the Kremlin last April, when it referred to the preparations to receive him.
“Taking all that into account, the most convenient date will be sought for the president of Venezuela, which coincides with the agenda of the president of Russia, [Vladimir Putin], for this contact to take place. There is an agreement in principle in this regard,” Schetinin said.
Translation by Internationalist 360°
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