March 22, 2005
President Chávez lays red carpet to welcome French Companies

(La Tribune) - "Venezuelan President met with members of a delegation from Medef International. The French wish to benefit from the economical re-launching and public expenditure in Venezuela.

French-Venezuelan relations are good right now. One week after President Chávez's visit to Paris, he met with a delegation of thirty French companies sent by Medef International. 'Jacques Chirac and I have decided to take relations between France and Venezuela to an upper level', said President Chávez during his meeting with this delegation among which there were top representatives of Alcatel, Thales and BNP Paribas.

In spite of a large international turnout wishing to do business in Venezuela, French companies also want to benefit from the economical growth showed by the world's fifth oil provider, which has been influenced by high oil prices.

According to President Chávez, the French also wish to benefit from... public expenditure in infrastructure, which will represent this year 6,6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to Venezuelan Finance Minister Nelson Merentes in his statement to La Tribune, 'the construction of roads, underground, housing, etc, will give French companies plenty of opportunities to benefit from' (...)".