President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela has entered into an agreement with Turkey to extract gold in the southern region of the country, where illegal mining activities are rampant.

Maduro affirmed that Turkish investments will focus on developing the mining sector in the Orinoco region, known for its vast quantities of gold and other minerals such as iron and coltan.

In a related context, the Venezuelan President aims to achieve sustainable growth in these mines, with a focus on environmental protection and maintaining ecological balance, which is expected to significantly enhance productivity.

Despite not yet announcing a specific date, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan plans to visit Venezuela this year, having previously visited Caracas in December 2018.