Venezuelan delegation in New York seeks debt, energy deals

Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed office in January following the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro by US forces, embarked on her first US visit on Monday. Rodriguez, along with her delegation, is currently in New York for the UN General Assembly, where she began discussions on energy, debt, and mining issues with US counterparts.

These talks are anticipated to result in agreements aimed at reviving Venezuela's key industries and facilitating access to financing while removing obstacles for the Rodriguez government's efforts to regain control of assets abroad. The delegation held talks with key officials, including Inter-American Development Bank President Ilan Goldfajn, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, and World Bank President Ajay Banga.

The visit is expected to focus on debt restructuring, funds, and payments, with Venezuela already announcing plans to begin restructuring its sovereign debt and that of state oil company PDVSA, estimated to be between US$150 billion and US$200 billion. The US-based International Development Bank is preparing a two-year engagement plan for Venezuela, focusing on electricity and social protection, among other sectors.