VenAmCham's chair: Uncertainty will prevail in 2013 in Venezuela

Gustavo Marturet, the Chair of the Venezuelan-American Chamber of Trade and Industry (VenAmCham), said 2013 would be characterized by "expectations and uncertainty."

The Venezuelan outlook "is complicated," Marturet noted as he explained a similar situation is taking place at the international level. "We are going through a global situation. I mean, five years ago, we would not have foresee that Europe would be crippled from the economic standpoint or that the United States would face a recession, even though it appears to be near the end; or that emerging economies would perform so good."

As for Venezuela, however, "It is going to be a year of many expectations and lot of uncertainty," VenAmCham's chair said within the framework of a Regular General Meeting of the bilateral organization. "Appraising and looking down on the horizon will be necessary. However, it appears clear that we will keep on being an oil exporting country and we need to boost production," which has been shed in recent years. It is also essential to invest in new technologies in the oil sector. Venezuela "cannot miss this if it wants to maintain its position."

Marturet also noted it is pivotal for companies to "have a clear panorama of the foreign exchange rate, economic growth, and labor." However, he underscored the importance of "engaging in a dialog. We, Venezuelans, live in two different countries. A dialog is vital for us to unite."