Almost 75 percent of seizures so far this year in Venezuela have particularly hit the industrial and trade sectors, according to a study conducted by non-profit organization Liderazgo y Visión (Leadership and Vision).

NGO Observatorio de Derechos de Propiedad (Observatory of Property Rights) said in a report that between January and August, 72 percent of government takeovers focused on retailers and industries. Meanwhile, the agri-food industry, which was the flagship of the Executive branch of government to begin the process of nationalization due to its strategic nature, represented barely 16 percent of expropriations.

In contrast, the report recalled that in previous years, 70 percent of seizures were implemented in the agri-food sector.

The other sector affected by nationalization processes was the real estate, which accounted for 12 percent of seizures during the first eight months of the year, according to the document issued by the non-profit organization.

In total, there were 117 government takeovers between January and August 2010.

The regions most affected by nationalizations in 2010 were the capital district and the southern region of Guayana, which represented 52 percent of government takeovers.

The National Lands Institute (INTI), and the governor's offices and mayoralties have implemented 13 percent of seizures.

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas