베네수엘라, IMF·세계은행과 관계 복원…투자 길 열려

Relations between the financial institutions and Venezuela broke down in March 2019 when the IMF recognised the country's opposition - which controlled parliament - as the legitimate government of the South American country.

Relations between the financial institutions and Venezuela broke down in March 2019 when the IMF recognised the country's opposition - which controlled parliament - as the legitimate government of the South American country.

WASHINGTON: The IMF and World Bank said on Thursday (Apr 16) they are restoring relations with Venezuela, further legitimising the interim government and opening new doors to financial support.

Within hours, the Venezuelan government confirmed it too would recognise the relationship that has been frozen since 2019.

"Guided by the views of International Monetary Fund members representing a majority of the IMF's total voting power, and consistent with longstanding practice, the Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva today announced that the IMF is now dealing with the Government of Venezuela, under the administration of acting President Delcy Rodriguez," the IMF said in a statement.

On Venezuelan state television on Thursday night, Rodriguez said: "We are normalising all processes that involve Venezuela's rights in the organisation."

Over recent days, the Fund polled its members on whether they saw Rodriguez as the legitimate leader of Venezuela.

The World Bank quickly followed the Fund in recognising the Rodriguez government, saying in a statement: "Guided by the outcome of the IMF's polling process, the World Bank Group today announced that it is resuming dealings with the Government of Venezuela, under the administration of acting President Delcy Rodriguez."

Recognition of the Rodriguez government by both institutions paves the way for them to formally begin economic data-gathering, provide technical advice, and to potentially offer financial support to the government, if Venezuela were to ask for it.

Relations between the financial institutions and Venezuela broke down in March 2019 when the Fund recognised the country's opposition - which controlled parliament - as the legitimate government of the South American country.

The institutions and Venezuela broke up financially long before their political divorce.

The last formal assessment of the Venezuelan economy by the IMF was in 2004, and Caracas cleared its World Bank tab in 2007.

Rodriguez was the country's vice president until early January, when US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a shock overnight operation. Rodriguez was subsequently made interim president.

Since then, Washington has exerted heavy pressure on the country to open its economy to foreign investment - especially its energy sector.

"Trump frequently and publicly talks about how much he likes Delcy and how closely they're working together," Henry Ziemer at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington told AFP. 

"But the institutional recognition is, I think, an important next step - going beyond the personal to the institutional."

"It's important for Delcy's appearance of legitimacy," he said.

Beyond the funds that could now flow from the IMF and the World Bank, the institutional recognition could reassure foreign private investors who were anxious about taking bets on the country.

"I think as many green lights as possible is good, I should say necessary for foreign direct investment to start flowing into Venezuela," Ziemer said, while noting that the security situation was still fragile.

The announcement comes during the week-long IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings that has drawn thousands of government officials, economists, investors and observers to Washington.

Behind the scenes, the US has encouraged greater engagement with Venezuela under Rodriguez.

On Tuesday, Washington eased sanctions on the Venezuelan Central Bank, while on the same day US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previewed this decision, saying the Fund was "working on bringing Venezuela back in, to make it look more like a normal economy".

Maduro's former sister-in-law resigned as president of the Central Bank, Rodriguez said on Thursday.

The Central Bank's vice president Luis Perez will take over her role.

Rodriguez, a veteran of the left-wing "Chavista" Venezuelan political movement, is the first woman to sit atop Venezuela's government.

Her position over the long-term is not guaranteed, however.

Last week, Venezuela's opposition called for fresh presidential elections, citing the country's constitution.

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