A Luncheon Briefing by  Mr. Roger Figueroa, Vice Minister for Light Industries and Trade, Caracas Mr. Luis Navas, Vice-President, Bank of  Foreign Commerce (BANCOEX), Caracas Mr. Luis Sojo, Commercial Attaché Embassy of Venezuela, Washington, D.C. Wednesday, June 15, 2005 12:00 Noon  (11:30 a.m. networking reception) Plimsoll Club, 30th Floor, WTC (Free validated parking in the WTC Garage)

The briefing is also an opportunity to learn more about the June 30 - July 1 Venezuela-U.S. Trade Fair to be held in Caracas, Venezuela. Conceived as a policy instrument to promote and strengthen Venezuelan trade relations with its business partners throughout the world, the Business Round has been a successful initiative to bring together business people in search of new markets for their goods and services. The first Venezuela-USA Business Round is open to all American businesses and enterprises, large and small, who would like to open a new market for their goods and services, as well as those enterprises interested in Venezuelan products.

Several Venezuelan government agencies, such as Petroleos de Venezuela (the national oil industry), the Venezuelan Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Venezuelan Food Services and Agricultural Supplies (CASA), the Ministry of Health and Social Development, and the Ministry of Tourism, among others, will be present at this event in order to secure some of their import needs for the years 2005 and 2006. At least $350 million will be contracted in sectors such as, but not limited to: 

• Agricultural products and food
• Agricultural and industrial machinery
• Electronic components
• Medical equipment and supplies
• Chemicals
• Plastics and plastics industry machinery.

Diverse Venezuelan industries will participate in the Business Round to promote their various products and services, such as, but not limited to seafood, agricultural products and derivatives, chemicals, petroleum products and derivatives, textiles and apparel, jewelry, handcrafts, tourism and other goods and services.

Representatives of the government agencies mentioned above will attend the event not only as potential buyers of American exports, but also in conjunction with Trade and Finance authorities in order to describe the advantages Venezuela provides in the areas of trade and investment, as well as the current legal framework related to these activities.

For additional information on the Venezuela-U.S. Trade Fair, visit www.embavenez-us.org.