BCV forecasts 8% economic growth for Venezuela in 2026

Published at: 15/05/2026 08:57 AM

The president in charge of the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), Luis Pérez, projected economic growth of 8% by the end of fiscal year 2026.

This estimate comes after the official announcement of the restructuring of sovereign foreign debt and the state debt of PDVSA, a measure with which the country seeks to fully reintegrate into the global financial system after remaining in default since 2017.

In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Pérez argued that this renegotiation process takes the Republic out of financial hiding.

According to the official, the start of these efforts has the approval of the international environment and marks the reestablishment of relations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, links that had been suspended since 2019. The total debt that the country intends to regularize exceeds 150 billion dollars, adding unpaid bonds, arbitration awards and accumulated interest.

Regarding macroeconomic performance, Pérez highlighted that in addition to the 8% expansion of Gross Domestic Product, the issuer works to slow down inflation to a single digit at the end of the year.

During the first quarter of 2026, the Venezuelan economy registered an increase of 2.5%, driven by an increase of 3.1% in non-oil activity, which made it possible to compensate for the 2.1% drop recorded in the hydrocarbons sector.

The economic recovery plan has the strategic support of the United States, whose role was described by Pérez as a leading and crucial role in lifting financial restrictions.

In this regard, the president in charge Delcy Rodríguez manages access to $5 billion in special drawing rights before the IMF to address the crisis in the national electricity sector.

As part of the transparency protocols, the BCV has initiated a process of auditing its financial statements with the international firm BDO, while a technical delegation is preparing to travel to Washington at the end of May to advance talks with multilateral organizations.

Mazo News Team