Welcome to the Scottish Venezuelan Society

The Society was founded in 2007 to develop friendly relationships and understanding, as well as to encourage commercial links, between Scotland and Venezuela.

Since then, it has pursued an active programme covering cultural, sporting and trade connections between Scotland and Venezuela. Any business or individual with an interest in fostering these links is welcome to join.

The Scottish Venezuelan Society is chaired by Rt Hon. Brian Wilson, a former UK Energy Minister and Trade Minister who has visited Venezuela on many occasions. The concept of the Society emerged from discussions Brian had with a visiting Venezuelan Minister on matters of common interest.

They noted that, while there has been a longstanding Anglo-Venezuelan Society based in London, this scarcely reflected the fact that the main trade relationships between the UK and Venezuela are particularly Scottish in character – oil and gas as well as the drinks industry, Venezuela being the world’s fifth largest consumer of Scotch whisky!

Another notable connection between Scotland and Venezuela which the Society has strongly supported is the attempt to pilot a Scottish version of Il Sistema, the hugely impressive programme which helps children out of poverty through music. The first Scottish project is in the Raploch area of Stirling.