Venezuela courts debt, energy and mining deals in New York

For years, Caracas was seen as a pariah, and foreign direct investment flows plummeted. But investors have begun returning. Venezuelan officials are looking to strike debt, energy, and mining deals at this week’s UN General Assembly, underscoring the country’s ambitions to return to international markets. Caracas was a pariah state for years, and foreign direct investment flows plummeted. But investors have begun returning since the Trump administration took effective control of the country: The Inter-American Development Bank on Monday announced a new plan to boost the country’s electricity and social welfare systems. Venezuela’s democratic transition remains on the back burner, however, with Washington preventing a leading opposition figure from going back over fears her presence could destabilize politics, a decision she vowed to defy. “ The moment to return has arrived, ” María Corina Machado told The Wall Street Journal.