Venezuela debates privatizing hundreds of state firms amid debt overhaul

In Venezuela, officials and private‑sector advocates are debating the future of hundreds of state‑run companies that are currently idle or under‑utilised. Analysts estimate that between 500 and 1,500 enterprises could be candidates for outright privatisation, strategic partnerships, or mixed‑ownership models. Rocío Guijarro, director of the Cedice Libertad observatory, said the state has seized assets without compensation, describing the actions as “expropriations” and arguing that “the private sector generates wealth, employment and well‑being.” She pointed to the 1990s privatisation of CANTV as a transparent example to emulate, adding that any new process must be “clear, transparent, verifiable” and include informed citizen participation.

Economist Andrés Carrasquero noted that Venezuela’s external public debt lies between $150 billion and $180 billion, and highlighted 2026 as a favourable year for restructuring thanks to renewed international recognition and re‑engagement with the IMF and World Bank. He said multilateral advice and confidence are essential for creditors to accept revised payment terms, and that simplifying the legal framework is a prerequisite for economic growth.