Foreign Investment on the Rise in Venezuela
Despite attempts by the opposition to present a blight picture of the Venezuelan economy, foreign investments increased by 220 percent in January-April, 2005, compared to the same period last year.

According to a Foreign Investment Superintendency (SIEX) report, the country earned 546 million dollars in the said period, while in the same period last year it earned 170 million dollars.

These figures come to back optimistic forecasts by authorities that Venezuelan economy is on the rise, amid a diversification process in order to lower its dependency on the oil industry.

An official report highlighted an upward trend in foreign investment with 4.6 million dollars in January, 50 million dollars in February, 126.9 million dollars in March and 364.5 million dollars in April.