Venezuela's excessive dependence on oil, high inflation, restrictive access to foreign exchange and ongoing nationalizations have increased the risk of doing business in the country. Accordingly, there has been a sharp decline in exporter and investor interest in this Andean market. The government has significantly increased its control over the country’s assets over the past decade. The business climate is turbulent, and President Maduro's administration has been openly hostile towards private capital and foreign direct investment. This situation is not expected to change over the short term.