Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on his television program Con Maduro+, November 4, 2024. Photo: Presidential Press.
The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, reported that Venezuela’s gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to grow by more than 10% in 2024. This implies an increase in investment and credit, thus strengthening the internal market and trade.
During the boradcast of his program Con Maduro+ on Monday, November 4, President Maduro presented an account of the increase in investments in the country, adding that in 2022 the economy had grown by 15% and at that time the economy had not yet recovered.
“In 2022, for the first time in 100 years, we achieved food security, national food production was at 80%, for the first time in 100 years of oil income during which everything used to be imported,” said the president.
He added that in 2023 the GDP growth was 5.5%, and this year, during the first quarter, there was an 8.6% growth in GDP, while “in the second half of the year there has been a lot of economic activity, there has been a strengthening of the economy, of trade, of national consumption, of productive activity, of imports and exports.”
He highlighted that Venezuela has achieved 100% national food production and supply, ensuring that the country has a supply market.
Regarding the foreign media campaigns with images of shortages in Venezuela which went viral a few years ago, he said, “Imperialism causes the damage, and after that it comes with the deception. It launches missiles, destroys, imposes sanctions, and then comes with manipulation … The empire is an expert in manipulation and its allies are also experts in deception.”
Venezuelan tax authorities collected more than 38 billion bolívars by the end of September
President Maduro highlighted that the Integrated Tax Administration Service (SENIAT) collected more than 38 billion bolívars in taxes this year.
He underlined the importance of this achievement, stating, “Two things are combined here, one is the growth of the real economy, because an economy that does not grow does not have the capacity to contribute and, secondly, that the professional capacity of SENIAT to collect taxes has been substantially improved. There is still a long way to go.”
President Maduro also emphasized the need to implement a “special plan” to combat tax evasion by those who try to avoid paying taxes, referring to the importance of strengthening the tax culture.
In this regard, the president stated that “ten, twenty, thirty years ago, the business community,” especially the richest, “did not consider it necessary to contribute to the tax system due to the abundance of oil resources.”
He mphasized, “All modern states have managed to establish solid tax systems. The strongest capitalist states in the world base their wealth on tax collection.”
“Let’s say, the United States and, other Western States, base their wealth on tax collection, and right now there is a debate in the world,” he added.
He called for the adoption of a “strong, radical policy to prevent them from avoiding the tax system.”
President Maduro showed optimism about the economic projections.
“We are going step by step,” he said. “In 2024 we are far exceeding the goals. Everything that is collected, as the people know, goes to health, hospitals, CDI, Bricomiles, everything goes to education.”
He added that 85% of the Venezuelan education system is public and free, and resources are also destined for the construction of public housing.
“It is very good news that we are collecting taxes, that the collection of taxes in the country has increased, and I believe that in 2025 there will be more good news,” he said.
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/BR/SC
