DOHA - There are an estimated two million Arabs in Venezuela, a country of 25.7 million people, members of the Venezuelan expatriate community in Doha said yesterday.
There are 71 Venezuelans in Qatar and some 20 of them are of Arab origin. They include families and single workers.
Most of the Venezuelans are professionals like engineers and technicians, with many employed in Qatar's vibrant oil and gas sector. Venezuela itself is a major crude oil exporter.
The Qatar-based Venezuelans, including those of Arab origin, met here at a function held at the residence of the charge d'affaires at the embassy of Venezuela in Doha last evening.
"It was an initiative of the Charge d' Affaires, Maria Esperanza de Jesus Giner, that we are meeting and coming to know each other," said one Venezuelan.
Musical shows were held on the occasion.
Giner addressed the gathering, asking fellow countrymen to project a good image of their country and live in unity and harmony.
She said solidarity and brotherhood were the essential elements of democracy.
According to Venezuelan community sources, Arabs, mostly Lebanese and Syrians, migrated to Venezuela in two phases.
The first migration was between 1905 and 1910 and the second one was after the Second World War in 1945.
There are Palestinians in Venezuela as well, but their number is not as big.
Arab Venezuelans are mainly in trade and present in all the 24 provinces of the country. Many are in the government service as well.
By Staff Reporter
© The Peninsula 2006
