Edmond Saade, president of the Venezuelan American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VenAmCham), said the association intends to "launch direct talks with President Hugo Chávez and boost better relations with the United States with a view to foster bilateral energy agreements."

Under his two-year term, Saade plans to intensify "promotion of free enterprise, trade and market, as well as the protection of the general legitimate interests of members and boost investment."

In an event VenAmCham hosted to outline the Economic Outlook for 2006, Saade claimed that "investment should be two-way. Public investment creates non-stable jobs, while private investment creates formal jobs. Governments should consider these parameters to shore up the people social ascent."

Saade explained VenAmCham intends to meet "with the President of the Republic to address energy issues and get to know government plans specifically in this field, and to open a dialogue. We should be clear that regarding economic agreements we cannot rely on sub-continental deal only (Andean Pact, Mercosur), but we do need to have positive economic ties with the rest of the world, and particularly with the United States."