African countries could be a market that Venezuela can develop with non-oil exports

The current president of the Venezuelan Association of Exporters (Avex), Gustavo González Velutini, indicated that new non-oil products are leaving Venezuela for the international market, such as perfumery essences. He also commented that raw materials such as aluminum and iron are being exported and highlighted that other products such as marine algae and crustaceans are being discovered. He stated that Venezuelan rum, which is the 'workhorse' of Venezuelan non-oil exports, is exported to 47 countries worldwide. Gustavo González Velutini noted that the Venezuelan meat sector is preparing to obtain an external certification to confirm it is free of foot-and-mouth disease, assuring that exports could be rapid once achieved. He pointed out that new markets need to be developed, such as African countries, describing them as eager for products with the capacity to pay. He also expressed on Televen the necessity for Venezuela to review all its trade agreements with other nations, highlighting that it is a straightforward but laborious process to revise agreements with Brazil, Mercosur, Chile, and all Andean Community countries.