March 13, 2006
Pdvsa to open business office in Colombia

(El Universal) - "State oil holding Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (Pdvsa) is to open a branch in Bogotá to encourage investment and monitor a project to build a gas pipeline intended to take Colombian gas from reservoirs on the Caribbean to Maracaibo, northwestern Zulia state, in Venezuela.

Venezuelan ambassador to Colombia Carlos Santiago told AP: 'We believe the friend Republic of Colombia requires our presence here in Colombia and we want to make bilateral business at many levels.'

He added that Pdvsa office in Bogotá would start operations in two weeks, 'to meet increasing business requirements.'

The new office is to 'keep control of the gas pipeline development and other investments we intend to make.'