Bilateral trade between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago exceeds $600 million, according to outgoing Venezuelan Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Hector Cassy Azocar.

In an interview with TnT Mirror, during a Farewell Cocktail Function held in his honour at the Hilton Trinidad on Tuesday night, Azocar said that exports from Venezuela to Trinidad include petro-chemicals, crude oil for refining and raw material for the manufacturing sector.

Trinidad and Tobago exports mostly air-conditioning units. Azocar said there is also co-operation in the energy sector and PertroCaribe is just one aspect.

Hilton General Manager ALY KHAN (left)
with Venezuelan Ambassador HECTOR
AZOCAR (right)

PetroCaribe is an agreement signed between Venezuela and a number of Caribbean countries to cushion the impact of rising oil prices.

He also noted that more than 1,000 Venezuelan students come to this country every year to learn English.

The ambassador said both countries co-operate in energy and security and share a common political position in the United Nations and the Organisation of American States.

Azocar also noted there has been increased surveillance by both the Guardia Nacional and the TnT Coast Guard, resulting in a drastic drop in piracy in the Gulf of Paria.

And he stressed that Trinidadians make up the second highest number of visitors to Margarita -- a free zone for shopping.

The Venezuelan Ambassador is heading back home next week after spending five and a half years in TnT.

Before his assignment here, he was Ambassador to Guyana, where he spent more than three years.