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The interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, welcomed the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, on Wednesday at the Miraflores Palace for a meeting focused on the development of the energy and mining sectors of the South American country.
The meeting also included the participation of entrepreneurs from the oil sector and is part of the two-day official visit that Burgum is making to Caracas, the second by a member of President Donald Trump's cabinet since the beginning of the political transition process in Venezuela, the government reported in an official statement.
During the meeting, Rodríguez requested to expedite the reform of the Mining Law, which still needs to be presented to the National Assembly, controlled by Chavismo.
The goal, as he explained, is to widen the legal framework to facilitate national and foreign investments in the sector.
"We would like to request the collaboration of all the deputies of the National Assembly to act swiftly and present to the country and to national and international business sectors the investment and development opportunities in the mining sector," he stated.
The leader stated that the goal is to create a “virtuous formula” in which foreign companies and the Venezuelan state participate to stimulate economic development.
Rodríguez also indicated that the technical teams from both countries will review the bilateral energy agenda this Thursday, which had already started to be discussed during the visit to Caracas by the United States Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, three weeks ago.
According to the official, both delegations exchanged information on investment flows and new technologies aimed at developing mining, including metallic minerals, non-metallic minerals, and resources deemed strategic.
"We want the Venezuelan people to see the advantages of having good relations with the world and with the United States," Rodríguez stated.
The visit of Secretary Burgum occurs at a time when the Venezuelan Parliament is preparing changes to mining legislation to allow for greater participation of foreign capital in the exploitation of natural resources.
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