Venezuela reconstruction: Industry groups propose new laws and seismic standards

Following recent earthquakes in Venezuela, industrial and construction sectors are proposing legislative and technical reforms to facilitate national reconstruction.

Enzo Betancourt, president of the Colegio de Ingenieros de Venezuela (CIV), has proposed the creation of an Independent National Commission to update seismic-resistant standards and urban planning. This initiative, supported by various academic and professional institutions, urges the state to conduct post-earthquake evaluations using international technical parameters. Experts have also called for a moratorium on demolishing damaged structures without technical inspection to preserve forensic evidence for engineering analysis.

Simultaneously, the Confederación Venezolana de Industriales (Conindustria), the Cámara de la Construcción de Venezuela (CVC), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are advancing a proposal for an “Omnibus Law.” This transitional legal framework aims to simplify administrative procedures, provide fiscal and customs relief in affected areas, and facilitate access to business credit. The proposal seeks to prioritize national production to supply the materials necessary for reconstruction and to reform existing laws regarding mortgage credit and real estate fraud to encourage investment.