Venezuela devalues currency by 46.5%; VEB at 6.30 per US dollar

Venezuelan Minister of Planning and Finance Jorge Giordani announced on Friday an adjustment in the official exchange rate, from VEB 4.30 per US dollar to VEB 6.30 per US dollar, which implies 46.5% devaluation.

The increase in the exchange rate will help improve public accounts, which ended 2012 with a fiscal deficit of 16% of gross domestic product. The move will be a breath of fresh air for state-run oil firm Petróleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa), as the company will get more bolivars per US dollar sold to the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV).

Additionally, chair of BCV Nelson Merentes announced that the Transaction System for Foreign Currency Denominated Securities (Sitme) has been removed. "The system was not meeting the objectives in some aspects. It was flawed," said Merentes in a press conference.

Further, he noted that authorities are to encourage US dollar accounts in Venezuela. "Since June 2012, the opening of foreign currency accounts was authorized (in Venezuela) and we will create mechanisms that facilitate these flows of foreign exchange," said Merentes.

He explained that deposits in bolivars for up to USD 2,000 monthly will be allowed in the cases specified in the relevant regulation, including the following: individuals can make transfers to their accounts abroad; they can make remittances to relatives abroad; receive pensions from abroad and payments for consulting in foreign currency.