Economy
Mexico's Cemex is open to come to terms concerning the expropriation of its manufacturing plants by the Venezuelan government outside the arbitration process commenced in international courts.

"We began a process of arbitration in an international court. However, we keep our stance before the (Venezuelan) government to negotiate outside the process of arbitration," said Héctor Medina, the executive vice president, Finance, of the Mexican company at a press conference held in Monterrey (northern Mexico).

In December 2008, Cemex applied for arbitration at the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), an institution of the World Bank. The dispute can last several years.

Cemex demands payment of about USD 1.3 billion for its assets expropriated by President Hugo Chávez's government.