BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism
or MAS [Hector MUJICA]; National Convergence or Convergencia [Juan
Jose CALDERA]; Radical Cause or La Causa R [Antonio HERRERA]; Social
Christian Party or COPEI [Oswaldo ALVAREZ Paz]; Venezuela Project or PV
[Henrique SALAS Romer]

Political pressure groups and leaders: FEDECAMARAS, a conservative
business group; VECINOS groups; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or
CTV (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action)

International organization participation: CAN, Caricom (observer), CCC,
CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: Ambassador Designate Roy CHADERTON
Matos chancery: Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San
Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820 telephone:
[1] (202) 342-2214

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Charles SHAPIRO embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas
de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1080 mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas
1060-A; APO AA 34037 telephone: [58] (0212) 975-9234, 975-6411 FAX: [58]
(0212) 975-8991

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue,
and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and
an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band

Economy Venezuela

Economy - overview: The petroleum sector dominates the economy,
accounting for roughly a third of GDP, around 80% of export earnings,
and more than half of government operating revenues. Venezuelan
officials estimate that GDP grew by 2.7% in 2001. A strong rebound in
international oil prices fueled the recovery from the steep recession
in 1999. Nevertheless, a weak nonoil sector and capital flight - and
a temporary fall in oil prices - undercut the recovery. In early 2002,
President CHAVEZ changed the exchange rate regime from a crawling peg
to a free floating exchange rate, causing the bolivar to depreciate
significantly.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $146.2 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 2.7% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,100 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agricultur