January 25, 2006
Business sector is optimistic

(El Nacional) - "A poll presented by the Venezuelan American Chamber VenAmCham, during the 2006 Economical Perspectives Forum, revealed the GDP will grow 7%. Oil GDP will grow 6%, while non-oil GDP will grow 9%.

The 300 managers who participated in the poll, said their annual budgets were based on an inflation of 8%. This represents a reduction of 6.4 points compared to 2005, when it reached 14.4%. At the same time, they calculated their payroll would increase by 18%, as well as wages and salaries (...)

Finally, 84% of those asked said their company's expenditure will be affected by de recent infrastructure and road problems. However, most businessmen plan to make more investments in 2006. 48% of them said their investment levels will register an increase compared to last year, while 40% thinks it will remain the same.

Those who participated in this study carried out by VenAmCham, think Venezuela must strengthen its relations with the US in order to have international projection. Colombia is second among this priority, followed by Brazil and China (...)".