Trying to limit sanctions pain, Venezuela pushes private firms into Asia, Middle East trade -sources

FILE PHOTO: Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez attends a meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, August 21, 2019. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/File Photo

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's government is encouraging private firms to sign import and export deals with companies in Asia and the Middle East as part of an effort to limit the impact of U.S. sanctions, according to four sources with knowledge of the matter.

The plan expands on President Nicolas Maduro's existing commercial relationships with allies such as Turkey and Iran, which have already been providing the cash-strapped government with food and fuel in exchange for gold.