During the border closure between Venezuela and the ABC islands, Celis visited Aruba several times and held various meetings to raise awareness about reopening the border.
WILLEMSTAD - As part of the 79th Annual Assembly of Fedecamaras, the inauguration of Expo Fedecamaras 2023 took place on Wednesday, July 19th, in the city of Maracaibo, Zulia State.
During this three-day Assembly, on Friday, July 21st, the election for the new President of the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Production will be held, and Adan Celis is anticipated to become the next President.
Juan Gotopo, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism of La Vela de Coro, and promoter of relations with the Dutch Caribbean, indicates that during the tenure of outgoing President Carlos Fernandez, with Celis as Vice President, the first-ever approaches between the Venezuelan business sector through Fedecamaras and the Chambers and Business Associations of Aruba and Curacao were carried out in history. Gotopo recalls that as soon as the border with the ABC islands closed, the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism of La Vela de Coro initiated efforts with the Venezuelan business federation to conduct what he calls "business diplomacy" with the aim of raising awareness in both Venezuela and the ABC islands about the benefits and opportunities of having an open and dynamic border.
During this management, for the first time, meetings were held with the Chamber of Commerce of Aruba, the Association of Industry and Commerce (ATIA), Minister of Integration and Labor Glembert Croes, visits to the Industrial Zone of the island, and the first business meeting between Venezuela, Aruba, and Curacao, which took place last January.
Gotopo considers all these activities as a "historic achievement" and highlights that during Adan Celis' presidency and his team's tenure in the Fedecamaras board, they will continue to develop and finalize meetings, activities, business encounters, and agreements that will enhance various economic sectors in the ABC islands and Venezuela, such as trade, tourism, banking, shipping, among others.
Adán Celis Michelena is a Venezuelan entrepreneur who graduated from the Universidad Metropolitana in 1987. He was the president of the Chamber of Industrialists of Carabobo, president of Conindustria, and first vice president of Fedecámaras.
Currently, he is one of the candidates vying for the Presidency of Fedecámaras.
Photo: Adán Celis is second from left