CARACAS (AP) — Venezuela signed several agreements with Turkey on Friday for the development of gas, gold, copper and petrochemical projects, as part of the efforts of both nations to strengthen their commercial relations, Venezuelan authorities reported.
Although Venezuela and Turkey have signed a series of agreements in recent years in various sectors, such as tourism, agriculture, fishing, health, education and industry, the main commercial relationship between both nations currently revolves around commercialization of gold, with which the government of President Nicolás Maduro has sought to obtain income and avoid the effects of the sanctions imposed by the United States.
“We are sealing strategic projects, a win-win alliance between Turkey and Venezuela,” said Maduro, at the end of the agreement signing ceremony in the state of Aragua, in the center of the country. The president highlighted a pact that establishes the construction of a “large petrochemical plant, producing ammonia,” as well as a concession for the exploration, exploitation and commercialization of minerals, gold and copper.
An agreement was also reached that seeks to promote a strategic alliance for the development of the value chain of natural gas, liquefied gas and natural gas liquids for export. The energy agreements were signed by Pedro Tellechea, Minister of Petroleum and president of the state-owned PDVSA, and Robert Yüksel Yildirim, president of Turkey’s Yildirim group of companies.
The United States sanctions are intended to prevent the Venezuelan government from carrying out financial and commercial transactions abroad, from having access to Venezuelan assets abroad and from dealing in oil, gold or other assets. In addition, Washington prohibited Americans and their international partners from doing business with Caracas to pressure Maduro to leave power under the argument that his re-election in 2018 was in fraudulent elections.
Venezuela, meanwhile, has strengthened ties with countries such as China, Russia, Iran and Türkiye.
