Venezuela: Proper economic strategies reduced unemployment to 22 Percent

Caracas, Mar 22. ABN.- “The proper politics and economic strategies carried out by the National Government have allowed, among other, to reduce the unemployment from 50 to 22%”, said this Saturday the chairman of Businessmen for Venezuela (Empreven), Alejandro Uzcátegui.

Through a press bulletin, Uzcátegui pointed out that such economic measures have allowed a reduction of the unemployment rate from 50 to 22%, “with a labor force over 12 million people”, he explained.

Furthermore, he underscored that the purchase power of most of the people has increased, which has stimulated the demand and the consumption. In the financial field, he pointed out that the the drop of the dollar price at the non official market has been significant; therefore, he also expects a drop in inflation.

Moreover, the spokesman of the commercial and business organizations supporting the Bolivarian process reiterated the call to dialog to some opposing economic sectors like Fedecamaras (Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce), “because it is known, and can be proved, that there are businessmen that, even benefiting with preferential dollars and the relation cos-production, they keep speculative levels between 200 and 300%”, he stated.

However, he pointed out that there are clear dialog signals like the agreements made with the Venezuelan Chamber of Industry and Food (Cavidea), and the progress with the micro-credits granted by Banfoandes.

The text adds that during his visit to Nueva Esparta State, ion order to meet with businessmen leaders of that island, he could check that the touristic sector of Margarita has registered a 100% hotel occupancy rate as well as a significant commercial upturn.

“This proves how proper have been the economic policies carried out by the Administration of the President Hugo Chávez”, he said. “National Government has kept its main worry by the social welfare, human beings as the center of the other activities carried out by themselves. That's why the nationalization of the companies Electricidad de Caracas and CANTV (power energy and telephone companies, respectively) have been reoriented from just business companies into service and social action ones”, he added.

Regarding the recent agreements reached through the work groups promoted by Empreven with other public and private institutions, he pointed out that those groups have allowed to detect and identify bottlenecks and, thus, design and apply the corrections needed.

Main actions have been carried out with the ministries of the People's Power for Light Industries and Commerce, for Mining and Basic Industries, as well as with the Currency Administration Commission (CADIVI), in issues like the easiness and speed up of permits.