Please discuss the main achievements and challenges of diplomacy between Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
In more than seven decades, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia have built a solid relationship, having as a central axis the cooperation within Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries – OPEC; similarly, a close cooperation in multilateral and international instances. This relationship was strengthened by Venezuela under the leadership of President Hugo Chávez Frías, who boosted bilateral relations and high-level exchanges; a policy that has been continued and promoted by President Nicolás Maduro.
With the emergence of Vision 2030 driven by the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohamed bin Salman, unlimited opportunities arise to broaden and deepen the bilateral relationship in all areas: education, culture, sports, security, tourism, trade, mining, industry, connectivity, and many other. Both countries are experiencing a sustained process of economic growth and diversification, and share a vision of mutual respect, friendship and solidarity.
Reflecting on the President Nicolás Maduro’s visit to Saudi Arabia, how do warm ties between state leaders affect ties between people of two countries?
The visit of President Nicolás Maduro allowed to reaffirm the ties of friendship and cooperation between our peoples and governments, as well as addressing various matters of mutual interest to build a working agenda in all areas, both bilateral and multilateral. In economic matters, to strengthen and expand trade, investment and technical assistance ties; in the social sphere, to promote cultural, educational, science and technology, sports and experience exchange programs; Venezuela’s support to Expo 2030 in Riyadh, as well as to strengthen cooperation in OPEC+, and in the various multilateral bodies. The development of these lines of cooperation strengthens the friendly relations between the two countries.
On the subject of an oil-diversified economy as part of Saudi Vision 2030, what do you see as Saudi Arabia’s main asset that can contribute to its growth, other than oil?
From Venezuela we appreciate that Saudi Arabia has several assets that serve as a basis for economic diversification such as mining, tourism, agribusiness, industrialization and development of cities and special economic zones, development of information technology services, telecommunications, ports and airports, among others.
Saudi Arabia and Venezuela are emerging economies with enormous business potential. What areas should be the focus of Saudi entrepreneurs when investing in Venezuela and vice versa?
Venezuela enjoys a geographical position with access to the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. This offers advantages for strategic connection, economic and commercial exchange of goods, services, exchange of experiences and technical assistance. The investment offer presented by Venezuela is oriented to sectors, such as tourism in areas of Isla Tortuga, La Orchila or Los Roques. The Orinoco Mining Arc is another area of great interest for investment, as well as the special economic and industrial zones, agro-industry and in general the agricultural sector of Venezuela offers exceptional opportunities for cooperation and investment, with more than 20 million hectares of arable land, highly fertile soils, and abundant water resources in addition to petrochemical, gas, and oil sectors. The Venezuelan business sector, thanks to the special economic zones created in the Kingdom, can find investment opportunities in the industrial sector, in agribusiness, tourism services, mining, etc.
One of the best ways to develop people-to-people ties is tourism. Please, walk us through the sights in Venezuela that might attract Saudis and DQ Living readers.
Venezuela ranks ninth among the megadiverse countries in the world. It has options for all types of interests in tourism: jungle, beach, mountain, plains, adventure tourism, heritage, family, ecotourism and cultural. The variety in the tourist offer of Venezuela can please all tastes: 3,500 kilometers of coastline with lush beaches; 72 islands, islets and cays, such as Margarita Island and the Los Roques archipelago, the only atoll in the Caribbean; 430,000 square kilometers of jungle with impressive vegetation, including 8% of the Amazon rainforest, excellent option for nature and adventure tourism.
In the mountains of Merida we have the highest cable car in the world, with 4,765 meters above sea level located in the Andes Mountain Range. Moreover, places like Canaima Camp and Kerepakupai Vienna Falls or Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world at 979 meters, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, will give everyone exceptional memories and mesmerizing photographs. The capital Caracas offers cultural and gastronomic diversity, and for those who can’t get enough of the views and adventures, there is a cable car that allows to visit the Guaraira Repano mountain or Ávila, which stretches over 300,000 kilometers of majestic plains with a variety of fauna, including endangered species such as manatees, caimans, turtles and jaguars.
