The President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro signed the decrees for the creation of the Special Economic Zones during the special working day dedicated to the Creation of the Special Economic Zones (ZEE).
First, he signed the decree for the activation of the Special Economic Zone of La Tortuga Island and designated Rear Admiral Aníbal Coronado Millán as sole authority.
Maduro asserted that the Organic Law on Special Economic Zones will allow progress "in building a new model to seamlessly integrate the economic, productive, and technological capabilities of the country's different regions," the head of state emphasized.
The president said that after the signing of the decree, the business roundtable will begin so that investors can be pioneers in the construction of one of the most important projects in the Caribbean and Latin America," he emphasized when signing the decree that activates La Tortuga Island as an EEZ.
"From the secret weapon that is tourism, Isla La Tortuga is our nuclear weapon, from our secret weapon," he said, inviting ambassadors and private, national and international investors to present their projects to participate.
He said that La Tortuga already has an advanced project, prepared by an Italian company, which will be a starting point to begin building this tourist pole in the Caribbean, with an island that is larger than Aruba and is totally virgin.
“It is virgin, ready for sustainable development. The project is ready, now, with the signing of the decree, we are going to proceed to the round of tourism investors, so that they can be pioneers in the construction of this most important wonder, today in the Caribbean and Latin America.
He then signed the decree to activate the activation of the Paraguaná Special Economic Zone and designated Sergio Luis Quintero as sole authority.
"Paraguaná is an important logistics, port, airport, and tourism center," he emphasized.
Maduro hailed the Paraguaná EEZ as an "economic marvel for the country" and requested the presentation of a development plan and roadmap for global investors to develop the technology industry, wind farms, and solar energy, as well as the valuable seafood production and tourism industry.
Aragua
The president also activated the Aragua Military Special Economic Zone, where he designated G/D Rosas Colón as the sole authority.
This Special Economic Zone has an extension of more than 400 hectares.
"This Special Military Economic Zone must achieve the highest level of technological development to create knowledge and impact the quality of life of Venezuelans," the president ordered.
"We have been working hard to create a platform. We're not starting from scratch," Governor Rosas Colón said, after highlighting the area's geographical advantages, including access to the capital and the main port, Puerto Cabello, as well as the gateway to the plains.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López commented that work has already been done with the military industry and the Military Scientific Council "to establish productive linkages: Plastics, metalworking, textiles, and footwear are the first areas being worked on," said Minister Padrino López.
"The current war is practically taking place in the air, and drones are a fundamental military strategy, requiring the best experts in the world," President Maduro noted.
La Guaira
The ZEE of the state of La Guaira was also activated, whose sole authority will be Marcos Meléndez Mata, as announced by President Maduro.
The governor of La Guaira, Alejandro Terán, highlighted the strategy of the Organic Law of Special Economic Zones through the deployment of the productive forces and the defeat of the illegal financial blockade that has affected the Venezuelan economy.
This ZEE is made up of three axes: the agro-tourism and fishing axis, the industrial and logistics services axis, and the tourist and real estate axis.
The governor of the state of La Guaira, José Alejandro Terán, highlighted the importance of the declaration of the Venezuelan central coast as the economic axis of the country, since it has the country's main port and airport.
Terán celebrated the incorporation of public and private capital into this economic zone in La Guaira, which has already left its mark on the central entity.
"Since you signed the decree of the Special Economic Zones, many private businessmen have shown interest in investing their capital in different projects in different economic areas," said the governor.
He added that the areas of tourism, construction and commerce have been some of the busiest in the state, generating numerous stable and well-paid jobs in the region. "We are going for more, because the impact of the ZEE of La Guaira will also benefit Caracas and part of Miranda," he added.
For his part, the sole authority of the ZEE La Guaira, Marcos Meléndez Mata, highlighted the importance of articulation with the other special zones to establish a harmonious development of the entire national economy. He emphasized the potential of the port and airport of La Guaira to contribute to the revitalization of the local and national economy.
Within the framework of the creation of the SEZs, President Nicolás Maduro told entrepreneurs, businessmen and investors that "It is time, it is time, here is the institutional and legal framework, public policies and the real potential to diversify the economy".
"We have an economic model that is absolutely relevant to Venezuela's uniqueness, with Venezuela's resources, with plans, with teams, and we have been cultivating a powerful alliance with the country's productive sectors," he said.
At the meeting that takes place in the Boyacá Room of the Miraflores Palace, located in Caracas, the Executive Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez and the National Superintendent of Special Economic Zones, Johann Álvarez Márquez, accompany the Head of State.
Finally, the president made reference to the funds released by the Portuguese government, which he assured will be invested in the people, in social and public services.
"We will not give up on rescuing that money from the Venezuelans who robbed and kidnapped us. The amount recovered will go toward guaranteeing the social rights and public services of the people," he stated.
Special Economic Zones
The ZEEs are defined as a "geographical delimitation that has a special and extraordinary socioeconomic regime, in whose polygonal areas are developed strategic economic activities provided for in this Law, in line with the objectives established in the Economic and Social Development Plan of the Nation”.
Among its fundamental purposes are the development of a new national production model; which seeks to diversify and increase exports, innovate processes in order to promote production chains and international markets; as well as to strengthen the industrial apparatus and promote the selective substitution of imports.
Among the incentives established by the Organic Law of Special Economic Zones, the following stand out:
- ISLR refund that can reach up to 6% in the first 100 years depending on the export activity.
- Reimbursement of taxes for the importation of goods, equipment and construction materials for the ZEE.
- Reimbursement of taxes for the import of raw material required for the industrialization of the ZEE.
- All have an export vocation to generate wealth and strengthen the productive apparatus
- All will develop the secondary sector: industrialization.
