00:00I am this week in Caracas for a two-day visit by Trump administration officials.
00:06We got here yesterday on the first flight of direct from the U.S., first non-stop flight
00:12to land in Venezuela since 2019 with American Airlines restoring their service.
00:17A very festive atmosphere yesterday at the gate in Miami with reggaeton music, a ribbon cutting.
00:24We've seen meetings here on the ground in Caracas with President Delcio Rodriguez.
00:29President Rodriguez, a few questions from the press?
00:31No, it's okay.
00:32When do you expect to hold elections in Venezuela?
00:36It's a lot. Sometimes.
00:38There's a number of memorandums of understanding signed by American energy companies as well
00:44as other mineral companies in gold as well as coal.
00:49And this is the latest delegation from Washington of the Trump administration to come to Venezuela
00:57hearing about a lot of excitement and a lot of interest from businesses, still trying
01:02to navigate a tough regulatory environment in terms of the government's take of profits
01:09and revenues from oil.
01:12And of course, oil and energy are the longtime drivers of the Venezuelan economy.
01:16But also, for the first time in a number of years, a lot of genuine interest in investing.
01:20We were at an American Chamber of Commerce of Venezuela meeting this morning.
01:24Energy companies just seeing a whole lot of interest from American companies in how to
01:29get back in here and how to establish and invest in Venezuela.
Comments