UMEK Business Trip to Venezuela

At 2:50 a.m. on August 24, 2025, our group of three took flight AV74 from Lima, the capital of Peru, transferred in Bogotá on flight AV42, and flew to Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. We arrived in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, at 10:15 a.m. local time.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish: República Bolivariana de Venezuela), referred to as Venezuela, is a country located in the northern part of South America, with a land area of 916,400 square kilometers. It borders the Caribbean Sea to the north, Colombia to the west, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the east. The capital is Caracas. In 2023, the total population of Venezuela was about 28.3 million, and the official language is Spanish. The country is divided into 21 states, 2 border regions, 1 capital district, and 1 federal dependency (consisting of 311 islands), for a total of 335 municipalities. In 2020, Venezuela’s total GDP was 47.26 billion USD, and per capita GDP was 1,691 USD.

Before coming to Venezuela, we had already done all kinds of preparations, including: baggage weight limits, hand luggage rules, passport, Venezuelan visa, return ticket, whether consumption was required when entering the country, safety issues, car rental issues, and driving issues...

The thing we were most worried about when coming to Venezuela was safety. Because when we mentioned in other South American countries that we were going to Venezuela, almost all customers were surprised. Moreover, during our visit, it was the time when conflicts between the United States and Venezuela broke out again. It was in such a country that we came.

In Venezuela, Spanish is the official language, and most people here do not speak English.

We successfully entered Venezuela. After entry, we collected our luggage and went to the car rental company. The car was rented in advance through Ctrip. Venezuela allows car rental with a Chinese driver’s license. The daily car rental fee was more than 300 yuan including insurance. It should be noted that although insurance was already included, there was a minimum deductible. We added insurance that offered zero deductible, theft insurance, tire insurance, and chassis insurance. Spending a little more money abroad brings more protection. The insurance from Ctrip was underwritten by Ping An Insurance, which means that after an accident, one needs to pay the cost first personally, and claim reimbursement after returning to China with evidence.

The driver's seat in Venezuela is on the left side, just like in China, so friends coming to Venezuela can drive with confidence.
The picture shows the car we rented. After experiencing the vehicle and road conditions in Peru, we felt that the current car rental conditions had been upgraded by several levels. After about one hour, we arrived at the hotel where we needed to stay.

This hotel usually keeps its doors locked. Only when someone comes, the staff will open the door. From this, we could feel that the local safety issue should not be underestimated. After a short rest, we officially started our customer visits the next day.

On the first morning, because the hotel did not provide breakfast, and we were not familiar with the distance and opening hours of nearby supermarkets, we bought three pieces of bread and three bottles of cold water at a street stall to quickly solve our breakfast, and then drove to the address of the first customer.
This customer has his own store and warehouse, mainly focusing on household products. We visited the customer’s company and products, and gave the customer a more comprehensive introduction to our company and the follow-up cooperation. On that day, we also learned that it was the customer’s son’s birthday. We gave the customer a panda keychain as a birthday gift. The customer liked it very much and gave high recognition to our visit.

After finishing the visit to the first customer in the morning, we saw a water-selling store on our way back to the hotel. We went in to learn in detail about the equipment used in the shop, the water-making process, the business model, the water price, and other detailed information, and left relevant materials for the operation department to produce related marketing documents.

In the afternoon, we planned to visit another customer with whom we had previously cooperated but whose business had been stagnant. We had sent multiple emails, instant messages, and phone calls, but the customer either read them without replying or did not answer. Then we decided to make a cold visit.
When we arrived at the customer’s store and found the contact person, he said he thought we were joking. They firmly believed that no one would come from so far away, from China, to visit them. The customer was very excited and warm when meeting us, and invited us to have coffee in a café next to his company. Their company’s store is located in the CBD area of the capital Caracas and has certain strength. In the café, we gave a more detailed presentation about our company and products. Later, the customer invited us to visit his company and held another meeting in the conference room to discuss products and future cooperation. We discussed until the customer’s closing time and also obtained the sample of the new product the customer wanted to develop.

After visiting two customers, we suddenly received news from domestic sales that a new potential customer wanted to meet us. So that night, we received the third customer at the hotel. Due to local security issues, the customer only had one hour. We gave an introduction about our company and products. The customer expressed approval, and follow-up orders would be connected with the corresponding salesperson.

After finishing the customer visits in Caracas, the next morning we drove for about four hours to another city, Valencia.
The photo shows the hotel we stayed in. When arranging the meeting with the customer, we found that the customer lived in the same community as us, and coincidentally, the customer lived right above us.

After putting down our luggage, we did not have time for lunch and directly started the first customer visit in this city. It was a family business. So far, the customer is already the third generation, but started importing for the first time last year. The customer has great potential and was very satisfied with our products and the service provided by our sales team. After this face-to-face meeting, the frequency and scope of cooperation will continue to deepen.
This customer was very attentive and warm. Since the trip was quite long and we missed lunch, the customer invited us to have dinner together. We spent a pleasant evening with the customer's family.

Before dinner, we again received a message from our domestic sales team, asking us to meet another unplanned customer. So we returned to the hotel for the meeting and completed another reception.

Early the next morning, we continued our customer visits. Today we were to visit our long-term local major customer. We held a six-hour meeting with the customer, discussing products, services, and future cooperation from multiple dimensions.

After finishing this customer visit, although it was already 4 p.m. and the local customers were about to close, we still decided to visit another customer in the rain. When we arrived at the store, we did not meet the customer in person, but we visited the store and warehouse, introduced our company to other staff members, and later received feedback from the customer.

After several days of running around and being busy, we finally had time to cook instant noodles in our apartment for dinner, paired with a pack of pickled vegetables. We had a full meal and felt like the happiest people in the world!

Our original plan was to stay in Valencia for one more night, then rush back to the capital early the next morning, change cars, and fly to another city. Although we knew that the customs process in Venezuela was extremely slow, we thought four hours would be enough. However, the customer suggested leaving six hours or even longer. Considering that we were not familiar with the road, the rainy weather, and the car tire risk, we decided to depart after dinner.

So we drove in the rain and darkness for four hours to the airport. Upon arriving at the car return point, we decided not to stay in a hotel but to wait a few hours in the car before entering the airport. So, we steamed in the free sauna, accompanied by the song of mosquitoes, and waited until 5 a.m. We returned the car and went for security inspection. The airport security check was extremely slow. After two hours, the queue had moved less than 10 meters. There were four rounds of security checks, each very strict, as if they wished to tear apart our slippers to smell them or lick the chocolates to test them. Finally, after seven hours, we successfully left the country and departed from this magical land.

Venezuela-related Notes

Etiquette and Communication
In Venezuelan business culture, relationship-building occupies a central position. The etiquette of local residents is similar to that of other Western countries. Friends greet each other with handshakes and friendly words. Close friends hug and kiss on the cheek when meeting.
In terms of addressing others, Venezuelans attach great importance to proper titles, considering them a sign of respect. Common titles are Mr., Mrs., and Miss. In diplomatic settings, any woman may be addressed as “Señora.”
Venezuelans value their professional titles, usually adding administrative or academic titles before the name.
Regarding business gifts, when invited to a Venezuelan’s home, it is best to bring a gift for the hostess in advance and send a thank-you letter afterward.

Among friends, men like to receive pens or other office supplies as gifts. For women, giving a bouquet of orchids is considered the best greeting gift, as the orchid is Venezuela’s national flower, symbolizing simple and warm friendship.
In terms of language, Spanish is the official language in Venezuela, but English can also be used in business settings. I suggest preparing Spanish versions of product introductions and marketing materials, which can help gain favor during negotiations.
In communication with customers, I found that they care more about product quality and service life. As long as the quality is good, they are generally not too strict about price. Therefore, proving product quality is the key point of a business presentation.

Market Research: Opportunities and Challenges
Venezuela’s economy is highly dependent on oil. The petroleum industry is the pillar of the national economy. The country is one of the major oil producers and exporters in the world, with oil accounting for about 80% of its export income.
However, due to U.S. sanctions and domestic economic policies, Venezuela’s oil production has plummeted from its peak of 3 million barrels per day to about 1 million barrels per day, which has severely affected its economy.

Main import and export structure:
· Imported products: mechanical and electrical equipment, chemical and hardware products, auto parts, building materials, and agricultural products
· Exported products: crude oil, petrochemical products, aluminum ingots, steel, iron ore, metal products, etc.

China is one of Venezuela’s major trading partners. In 2022, bilateral trade in goods between China and Venezuela reached 3.842 billion USD, an increase of 20.6%. In September 2023, the two countries jointly announced the elevation of bilateral relations to an all-weather strategic partnership, providing more potential opportunities for Chinese enterprises to conduct business in Venezuela.

Major local e-commerce platforms include MercadoLibre (with over 58 million monthly visits to its Venezuelan site), as well as Linio Venezuela and Rappi.

Cultural Environment: Customs and Taboos
Venezuelans are a mixed population of Indigenous, European, and African descent. As of the latest statistics, the country has a population of 26.56 million, with 51.6% mixed-race, 43.6% white, 3.6% black, and 3.2% Indigenous.
In social interaction, Venezuelans like to stand very close when talking; sometimes, faces are almost touching. They may pat your shoulder or adjust your collar during a conversation. Close acquaintances often hold hands while talking. Foreign visitors should not be surprised—this is a gesture of friendliness.

Dining etiquette: Venezuelans mainly eat Western-style food but combine it with local cooking methods and seasonings. Main dishes include rice, corn cakes, beans, beef, pork, fish, shrimp, seafood, poultry, eggs, vegetables, and fruits.
Venezuelans have a habit of toasting each other when dining. According to local customs, guests should wait until the host offers a toast first. They generally dislike heavy-flavored foods, buttery pastries, and pears.

Taboos: Venezuelans avoid the number 13 and Friday the 13th. They dislike peacocks, believing they bring bad luck. Seeing one may make them uneasy for days. Anything related to peacocks—such as images, ornaments, or feathers—is considered unlucky. They also avoid giving knives or swords as gifts, as this symbolizes cutting off friendship.

International Economic Environment: Current Situation and Risks
Venezuela is currently facing severe economic challenges. According to international media reports, its oil production has dropped from 3 million barrels per day during the Chávez era to 1 million barrels per day today. China has become its main export market. Although Venezuela has abundant oil reserves, its industrial system is incomplete, with 80% of intermediate goods needing to be imported—creating potential opportunities for foreign investors.

Main risks include:
· Political and policy risks: The Maduro government remains unstable, with frequent opposition disturbances
· Exchange rate risk: Due to foreign exchange control and international sanctions, Venezuela’s financial system faces high exchange settlement risks
· Social security risk: High crime rates and frequent large-scale protests

Practical Business Advice:

1. Logistics: DHL’s cargo size limit is 120×100×160 cm, single pieces not exceeding 70 kg, and total per shipment not exceeding 300 kg. Cargo valued over 2,000 USD requires formal customs clearance.

2. Payment methods: It is recommended to plan funds in advance to cope with foreign exchange controls. It’s best to use bolívar or local credit cards for payments; other methods are inconvenient for settlement.

3. Contract documents: All documents must be written in Spanish. Customs declaration forms and packing lists must be accurate, or they will be rejected.

Practical Travel Information:
Transportation: Domestic transport in Venezuela relies mainly on highways and aviation. Vehicles are left-hand drive and travel on the right. Private cars, buses, taxis, and the subway are the main means of transport. Taxi fares are usually negotiated and not metered.
Communication: Venezuela’s international calling code is 0058. Chinese GSM phones with international roaming can be used in Venezuela. The main social platforms are Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Twitter.
Accommodation and safety: It is recommended to choose hotels with good security facilities and avoid going out alone or visiting remote areas. Chinese merchants should avoid living in shops to prevent looting.
Health precautions: Venezuela is in the tropics and has had cases or outbreaks of yellow fever, dengue fever, and malaria. It is advisable to consult a doctor before departure and prepare necessary protective supplies and medicines.

Conclusion
Venezuela is a market full of contradictions—rich in resources yet economically struggling, strict in business etiquette yet chaotic in social order. Conducting business in such a complex environment requires patience and respect, as well as flexibility and courage.
Despite many challenges, for well-prepared foreign trade enterprises, the Venezuelan market still holds specific opportunities, especially in the fields of mechanical and electrical equipment, chemical products, auto parts, and building materials.
Building trust and reliable local partnerships is the key to success in this market. Through my field visit, I found that as long as one fully understands the characteristics of the local market, respects cultural differences, and manages risks well, valuable business opportunities can still be discovered in Venezuela.