Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
1
UNIVERSIDAD DE LOS ANDES
FACULTAD DE HUMANIDADES Y EDUCACIÓN
ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS MODERNOS
Informe final de Pasantías presentado por el Br. Ihiruye Rebolledo como requisito parcial
para optar al título de Licenciado en Idiomas Modernos
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Nombre y Apellido: Ihiruye Rebolledo Piñero
Título del Informe: Informe de mis pasantías en la Zona Libre Cultural, Científica y
(ZOLCCYT)
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INDEX:
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Institution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Assigned Tasks:
Magazine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
- Others. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
The Research. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Drafting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4
- Summary of Other jobs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
CONCLUSIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
- On the Institution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
BIBLIOGRAPHY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
- Tangible reference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
5
APPENDIX:
Tangible:
Evolution of the corrections to the EROF system and web site……...B,1 – B,7
Virtual:
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INTRODUCTION
Nowadays, at the beginning of the XXI century, the political, economic and social
where designed and established by foreign interests, the main problem is that those
system models are not adapted to the real needs of each organization and each country.
and public as well). Not just adapting themselves to this phenomenon, but also using it as
a tool in which institutions are constantly trying to participate directly as part of it. Being
aware of this situation, the Venezuelan government has been implementing strategies in
order of not being left behind in the international race. The principal strategy is to use
international trade, not only as an economic interest, but also as a way of social
development.
Mérida State, in which those products and articles justified as scientific, cultural or
technological reasons has not been just an economic interest but also a social one as they
participate directly in the national development. Considering that the Metropolitan Area
of Mérida and particularly the Capital City (with the same name) has a tremendous
potential in these three fields (Science, Culture and Technology), the creation of the
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ZOLCCYT was the best option to take.
1
ZOLCCYT: Scientific, Cultural and Technological Free Trade Zone of Mérida State according to its
capital letters in Spanish.
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As a modern language student, since very early in my studies, I was interested in
this institution due to the possibilities it offered Mérida City and its residents. So, when it
was time to choose a place to do my internship, I collected information and wrote a small
report to explain to my Academic Tutor the reasons for my interest in this institution. I
started my internship there on October 2nd of 2.006 and finished on December 22nd of the
same year. I worked in the Direction of General Operations under the tutelage of the
professor Alberto Pérez Maldonado. My schedule was from 8am to 12m and from 1pm to
4:30pm during the twelve (12) weeks previously agreed. The following is a report on my
internship in the Scientific, Cultural and technological Free Trade Zone of Mérida. It is
history, its function as institution, mission, vision, general and specific objectives, its
the Institution: A description of the Direction of General Operations and its Office of
about the making of Investment Opportunities Magazine: The research, edition, treatment
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CONCLUSIONS: Conclusions and final results of my Internship in general,
personal experience and some comments to the ZOLCCYT, Modern Language School
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CHAPTER I: The Cultural, Scientific, and Technological Free Trade Zone of
Mérida State:
On Friday, July 14th, 1995, the Venezuelan Congress decreed by law the Cultural,
Scientific, and Technological Free Trade Zone of Mérida state 2. It was created as a fiscal
tool that promotes international commerce with the goal of encouraging scientific,
technological, and cultural development of the state, and by extension the whole national
territory. The principal function, control and exoneration of the main taxes of those
companies that participate and promote the development in CC&T (science, culture and
unit assigned to the Viceminister of Control and Regulation (which belongs to the
Ministry of Finance). Its general functions (control, promotion, and registration) are
coordinated in Mérida city by a board, which is led by a General Director who represents
the Finance Ministry. There are also representatives from the Science and Technological
Ministry, Culture Ministry, the Light Industry and Commerce, as well as representatives
from the University of the Andes, The State Government and Representatives from the
The Cultural, Scientific, and Technological Free Trade Zone exempts all companies
from the following taxes: Import Tariff (5-20%), Customs Tariff, Federal Sales Tax
creativity, knowledge, and research as principal tools for regional and national
development; To motivate development and the creation of companies that will make
2
Official gazette: Year CXXII, Month X, Number 4.937 Extraordinary. Caracas, July 14, 1995.
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positive contributions to the economy; To strengthen importation and exportation of
cultural, scientific, and technological goods and services ; To generate jobs; To diversify
improve the quality of scientific, cultural, and technological endeavors at the national
level.
ZOLCCYT’s organization3
(chosen by the President of the Republic) and administrated next to the other six (6)
coordinating, maintain and improve those administrative, technical and legal mechanisms
necessaries to guarantee the proper functioning of the institution. In order to achieve this
commitment the department has the Administration and Services Office and the
Administration and Services Office: This office takes care of using the budgets
assigned by the General Directions and those financial resources given by the National
Executive.
communication between the Board members, and maintaining the internal and external
3
All the ZOLCCYT’s information about its organization was obtained from its web site:
http://www.zolccyt.mrd.gov.ve/
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Department of Operations and Fiscal Control: This department evaluates and
services in the same companies and coordinates all formalities and requirements related
department monitors those companies that are registered with ZOLCCYT to be sure that
they are in compliance with the same goals and methods approved by the institution.
They also evaluate new companies that are interested in joining in the Free Zone to see
that their business plans are viable and in accordance with ZOLCCYT goals.
promoting and informing the general public about those things related with the Free
Zone. It also plans and supervises the communicational policies with businesspeople,
private and public entities, civil societies and any other possible participant in order to
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MINFINANZAS
MILCO
ULA
GOBERNACIÓN
MANCOMUNIDAD MUNICIPAL
General
Direction
Administration and
Services Office
during my internships.
Computing and
Telecommunication Office
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CHAPTER II: Department and Offices where I participated: My activities in the
Institution
Since its main function is to guarantee efficient service to the general public in
opportunities in Mérida State, guaranteeing its beneficiaries access to the regime, and
developing actions to consolidate the financial and budget aspects of the institution)
Taking into account that investment participation is completely necessary, we can say
that at this time, the Department of General Operations is in charge of maintaining and
developing relations with the common businessperson. It also generates interest and
security for the investor, in order to create a socioeconomic link between ZOLCCYT and
regional and national society, and compel growth in the areas of culture, science, and
technology.
informational materials that motivate both the national and international investor.
Because of this, we can say that it is the right place for a student of Modern Languages
experience, in order to help the student to understand the organizational structure and the
possible strategies that may be used to reach a good working order. The Institution, as
much as the Student, is benefited by the important symbiotic relationship offered by the
internship experience.
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Assigned Tasks:
“Investment and Business Opportunities in Mérida and the Free Zone” Magazine:
my institutional tutor, Professor Alberto Perez (who directs the department), asked me to
work on the production of a magazine, both in English and Spanish, about the business
opportunities in Venezuela and specifically in the region benefited by the Special Fiscal
Regime, which was to be designed with the goal of promoting investment in the region.
In order to achieve this, it was necessary for me to create a plan that consisted of
three general steps: Study and Research, Planning and Organizing the Information
Obtained, and Producing the Material for the magazine in Spanish and its English
version.
The Study and Research step consisted primarily in researching the information
on the institution, and defining and understanding ZOLCCYT in Mérida. After this, I
had to conduct an exhaustive search for informational materials on the most important
Customs offices and the Free Zones worldwide, to use as models for obtaining the same
opportunities in the Free Zone in Mérida. To search for this information, I used the
Internet as the primary research tool, investigating the most prestigious customs offices
and their investment possibilities, information and materials on the Free Zone in Mérida,
and a variety of informative national and international publications, which was offered by
Professor Pérez.
Once this information was obtained, for the planning and organizing phase it was
necessary to create a tentative model of the magazine’s structure. With the goal of
facilitate the access to all the information, I made an outline of files composed of sub-
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files that separated and classified all relevant information about the work; the three
investment. Sub-files: Social Character, Service Networks and the Cities with the
State and the Metropolitan Zone, with the goal of highlighting investment opportunities
in such places. Sub-files: Social and Economic Reality, Industrial Zone and Foreign
as EROF in Spanish):
that consisted of drafting the set-up and menu for the EROF system.
Others:
I was also asked to organize a chart of all the companies registered in the Free
Zone, for which I used Microsoft Excel and its version in Open Office.
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CHAPTER III: My experiences in the Institution:
Nowadays, the ZOLCCYT is an Institution that has not produced the expected
results. Even being well organized as an Institution, the Free Zone does not have active
investment participation. The activity of the Registered Companies is under the expected
can conclude that even when the State offers infrastructures, specialized institutions,
supply and demand in science, culture and technology, it does not count with a foreign
trade culture. There is a void in the business company participation and as a result there
is not an exploitation of regional development. Aware of this problem the Free Zone has
given especial treatment in order to motivate the investment through strategies that
promotes security to the investors. The automation of the EROF System (The Fiscal
objectives.
ZOLCCYT has become one of the most important institutions for the economic
and society of Mérida State, because of this, is not difficult to see the high cultural,
scientific, and technological potential of the city, and comprehend the great advantages
that a duty-free zone could lend to the ability to take advantage of this potential. As a
Meridian, since the beginning of my studies at the University of the Andes, I felt exited
with the idea of doing my internship at ZOLCCYT, and when I explained this to my
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academic tutor, she asked me to do a little research and write a small report that
explained my reasons for being interested in it. I did the research on ZOLCCYT, mainly
using the Internet, and later on, I went to their offices to ask for informational material.
This way I was able to understand a little more about the Free Zone and focus my interest
Get to know ZOLCCYT well enough to understand its function and guidelines,
and be able to identify the possible work and economic opportunities that this institution
To help the Free Zone in any capacity that requires people who speak foreign
languages and understand the international organizations behavior for being able to help
To gain my first work experience that would test my knowledge, and measure my
Writing this report for me was a way to confirm my interest in this institution.
Once the institutional procedures for my internship were done, Professor Olga
informed me that the Free Zone needed a student of Modern Languages to be in charge of
me to know the main purpose of my internships in the institution because in that way I
My internship at ZOLCCYT began the October 2nd, 2006, with Professor Alberto
Perez as my institutional tutor, and Professor Olga Munoz as my academic tutor. The
first day I was given note-taking material and I was assigned a small cubicle with a
computer and internet connection. I was quickly introduced to the personnel and
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assigned my first task: to search for and understand informational material on the Free
Zone to familiarize myself with the Institution. I also received from Professor Alberto a
The Research:
Making a magazine about the business opportunities in Mérida was very much in
line with my personal interests. Because of this, researching the investment opportunities
in the Free Zone and in Venezuela was an activity that I enjoyed very much. With
Internet access and the material that had been given to me, it was very easy to conduct
research on the current situation of the country, its demands and offers of economic
opportunities. I must admit that I was surprised at all the sources of information and the
numeric figures that I saw; I never imagined that there would be so much access to
institutional information at the national level. Once I began to collect and study all this
information, I realized the amazing quantity of positive data and figures, the excellent
working order of the gubernatorial websites, and the potential of Mérida and Venezuela
in general. I even realized our national superiority in this kind of material when I
compared it with systems and models from other countries. The research was perhaps the
longest phase; in order to work on the magazine I had to study many different themes and
research a lot of data. It should be noted that the personnel in the Free Zone were always
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Tentative structure to follow for the organization of information to use in the
magazine creation:
Service Chains
Municipalities
With all the information I needed, I began to compare the current situation in this
country with other places, to get a better idea of what’s really relevant and important to
foreign investors interested in Venezuela and specifically in the benefited areas by the
special fiscal regime in Mérida. When I was doing the research about the advantages in
Venezuela and its investment opportunities, I never imagined the quantity of benefits and
resources that our country has. With an enormous human potential, many natural
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resources, and a strategic geographic position, Venezuela in general and Mérida in
particular, are places of extreme interest from the point of view of investment. Making
such a comparison of Venezuela with the situation in other places in the world, it woke
his patrimony, and as a possible investor. It’s also important to note that Venezuela is not
only a place of great wealth and key geographic presence, but also that paradoxically,
offering security to the businessperson and his holdings, which is perhaps the most
important factor for the investor. For me, the most impressive thing I learned from my
reach.
Drafting:
To create the body of the magazine, it was first necessary to classify all the
information obtained. This information was classified into files and sub-files, which were
based on the tentative titles and sub-titles under which the body of the magazine would
be developed. Once all this information was organized, I drafted paragraphs that
summarized the most relevant aspects for people interested in investing in Venezuela and
specifically Mérida and the Free Zone. Drafting it was a challenge, seeing as I was not
familiar with either the economic terms, or how to speak about such information.
Although in the beginning I felt somehow frustrated by these obstacles, I simply drafted
the documents that I considered adequate, and under the constant tutelage of Professor
Alberto, I was able to overcome those obstacles, get into the subject, understand the
language. In creating the draft, it was necessary to accumulate and combine much of the
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information into numerical figures and statistics, and thus show many relevant
Once the draft or skeleton of the magazine was finished, I began working on the
English version. From the beginning I was nervous with this phase because I was asked
to make a translation, and I don’t think I have the capability of doing such a work, so the
solution was to make an English version that relied on its own drafting and style. This
meant writing the entire document again, but in a different language, so as not to commit
errors in the coherency or sense of the text. Creating an English version was not so
difficult once I understood how to deal with each point, but even so, I was stress knowing
that I was responsible for this version and that for as much as I tried to be accurate, there
would be doubts that only someone specialized could clarify. It’s important to note that
the Free Zone is still not very clear in understanding the capacities and profile of a
have been assigned (not only for this work but also for others) to make translations,
which always puts me in a difficult position because I know that such a task requires a
specialized education; although I have explained this problem many times, I still have
been assigned the work of translating. Because of this preoccupation, I felt obligated to
look for help in revising the text in English. And even though it has been revised,
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The result:
The final result I was reaching for throughout my internship was to be able to
finish the total content of the magazine; because of this, it is necessary to clarify that by
not finishing it, the final result I had hoped for was not achieved. Considering that: in the
past, other interns had worked on the idea of a magazine would highlight investment
attributes and would promote investment opportunities in the state and specifically the
Metropolitan Zone; and that the section called Clusters and production chains was never
completed due to lack of up-to-date information, we can conclude that even if it was not
As far as the institution is concerned, I think that the results could have been
better. If it is true that ZOLCCYT values its interns and offers them the opportunity of
their first work experience, I personally could not feel that value that ZOLCCYT, as an
institution, gave to its interns not as simple interns, but as the possible future generation
that will exploit its benefits and as potential tools that facilitates the reaching of the
institutional goals. The results that I contributed to were: completing the three chapters
that formed part of the tentative body of the magazine in Spanish; complete and edit part
of the information managed in the Free Zone for the creation of the magazine; classifying
the useable information (texts, graphs, photos, etcetera.); and creating an English version
Perhaps at a personal level I could see more tangible results. In the first place I
should mention that the most relevant result is having completed my internship. Second I
must admit that I felt particularly surprised by the quantity of information that I could
obtain during my stay in ZOLCCYT, information that fits perfectly with the interests I
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expressed to my academic tutor when I told her of my aspirations for interning at said
institution.
(EROF)
Another work that I consider worth mentioning in this report was the participation
in improving the presentation of EROF system. To take advantage of my stay in the Free
Zone, Professor Magaly Reyes asked me to help her with drafting web site and with
creating the version in English. The strategy I used was to experience firsthand the
entrance by putting a virtual company through the approval process, and in this way I was
able to try out the three registration phases and see for myself any possible faults.
Through studying the entrance I was able to see various errors of distinct
magnitude. The main mistake was in the wording, which made understanding the site and
the steps to follow for registering difficult to understand. These mistakes would be easy
to correct, but even so the general design was complicated; the system wasn’t adapted to
the user’s needs, but instead forced the user to try and adapt their own understanding to
be able to navigate through the system. When I made this observation to professor
Magaly, she explained that although this was true, at that time nothing could be done
because the problem had to be resolved as soon as possible. This comment surprised me
myself to drafting, step by step together with the instructions that would be published at
the same time in the form of a leaflet. The system was that I did the draft, and then took
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a physical copy of it to Professor Magaly to be approved, and once it was approved I took
the same document to the lawyer Marabeth Marquez (from the Legal advisor and
me because it required more time for the revision, which slowed the progress on the
reflected in the fact that a total of more or less thirty (30) rough copies were used before
getting the final result. It must be noted that each rough copy needed to be printed,
corrected and approved by Professor Magaly and then by Miss Marabeth. I think that a
little more organization would bring more effectiveness and improve the quality of the
work.
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CONCLUSIONS:
an academic and personal level. But I feel the need to express that there were different
results according to which point of view one sees it. In order to better express this point,
I have divided the conclusion into three parts which, although they may only reflect my
point of view, try to reflect upon and show the results, details and commentaries on each
On the Institution:
for having opened its doors to me so cordially and welcoming; this branch of the
SENIAT enjoys and is backed by an enormous human potential that never hesitated to try
and clarify any doubts I had. During the length of my internship I felt extremely useful as
a person and as a worker (in this case, an intern), whose contributions, taking into
account ZOLCCYT’s usefulness for the community and the importance of the work in
developing the Free Zone as an institution, although small, were the result of a job that
goes beyond the simple content of an investment magazine, and were in fact a way to put
my professional and personal abilities to the test, which I feel responded well to the
situation.
On the other hand, I think it is worth mentioning that a more realistic motivation
necessary. Even if I was treated very well in the Institution, I never saw any final product
of my staying in ZOLCCYT. I must admit that I felt very disappointed to find out that I
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would not complete the magazine and that I would not be able to see the final version. I
am also worried to think that the material that I gathered for that work will remain filed
away and will never be used for anything more than a bibliography for other interns,
leaving the magazine project an unending spiraling work that will only be used by
interns.
(Professor Alberto Perez), but not from the Free Zone in general. I’d like to make a
emphasis at this point because ZOLCCYT is a quite new project that still has not come to
bear fruit, and therefore should offer greater importance to interns. An intern should be
seen as a tremendous tool, regarding the results of their work and in the development and
innovation in the institution. In this way their effectiveness would increase and a door of
mutual benefit would be opened. I’m sure that if ZOLCCYT gave more value to its
interns, these would be considered abruptly useful as well as perhaps the most useful tool
that the University of the Andes is not just one of the main influences in the Free Zone,
I would like to start this part of the conclusion thanking to the School of Modern
Languages. Through my internship experience I was able to realize how much I have to
all the doubts and ambiguities that we all suffer during our studies, and especially in
following the International Organizations Option, I can assure that I was able to carry out
all the activities that were assigned, which I attribute to my superior education.
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I must admit that I felt extremely fortunate having got Professor Olga Munoz as
my Academic Advisor because if it hadn’t been for her I would have arrived at the Free
Zone with many more doubts and less confidence of what I was capable or not of doing.
Through my experience, I can say that doing a small report on the institution where one
required by the advisor; seeing as it is the student’s first work experience it is very useful
to conduct a bit of prior research on the desired institution, on reports from former interns
at the same institution or similar institutions, and based on that small study, draft one’s
internship experience is owed in large part to that small report that I had to make
beforehand.
translations and although I always insisted and reiterated that I was not qualified for such
work, even so, the English material was necessary and the solution that I created was to
draft a version in English. The School of Modern Languages should monitor these
institutions so that this kind of problem does not keep occurring. On the other hand, to
find an acceptable solution or just to face the situation and make an English version is
also a very useful and significant labor experience. So, we can say that even if making
translations is a very useful and significant experience for the Student, it could be a risk
for the institution. So, in case that it is absolutely necessary for the International
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I also consider that the School should promote more to the ZOLCCYT as the ideal
institution to do the internships. The Free Zone is an institution that follows an activity
very compatible with the profile to follow for the International Organizations Option
Student, and if there is something to doubt about is the lack of maturity that the
organization still has, situation that only would change with time, I believe that it is
important the direct participation of the Modern Language School in this process and
specially the International Organization Direction due to the significance of this career in
such institution. The symbiotic relation between these Institutions is essential for the
development, growth, and adaptation of both inside the nowadays world. This
relationship depends mainly in the Modern Language School as it is in here where the
Personally I am very satisfied with my internships, and even if I did not reach the
indispensable to have an idea about the personal interests when is time to choose a place
to make the internships. This is because the International Organizations Option is still a
very complex and broad career. I recommend to all students to start making a brief
research (as I mentioned before) about the institution and his or her expectations about it.
By sure I would not obtained so many benefits if I would not have a defined ideal about
all my goals in the institution and even if it can be considered that this behavior depends
more in the individual character than the education, it is of extremely importance that
29
each student looks for advice in order to comprehend the professional advantages that
ZOCCYT offers and the importance of this Institution not just for Mérida but also for the
whole country.
To me it was very useful to carry on an every day journal with all the notes of my
works, activities and events of the office during my internships. It was very helpful to
register of each labor (and all the necessary steps to complete them) using the respective
tools (photocopies, virtual and tangibles supports, notes, etcetera) in order to avoid any
any other inconvenient, besides having this background helps a lot when it is time to
recommend the Free Trade Zone of Science, Culture and Technology of Mérida State as
a place to make their internships. Even if it is an Institution that nowadays it does not
offers a lot of opportunities in a labor way, it is maybe the Mecca of the Culture, Science
and Technology (as its name says) in Mérida State, perhaps not now but by sure it will be
in a future. In other words, the advantages of making the internships in this Institution go
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BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Tangible reference:
Venezuela.
31
Zona Libre Cultural Científica y Tecnológica del Estado Mérida, Dirección de
Maldonado, Alberto.
Zona Libre en los sectores vinculados con cultura, ciencia y tecnología. Mérida,
Maldonado, Alberto.
Operaciones Generales. (2006). Síntesis Memoria y Cuenta Año 2006. Zona Libre
32
Estado Mérida (ZOLCCYT). Mérida, Estado Mérida. Autor: PEREZ Maldonado,
Alberto.
Virtual references:
United States of America’s Customs & Border Protection [On Line]. Washington
2 April 2006]
San Isidro Industrial Free Zone [On Line]. Santo Domingo, República
Zona Libre de Cultural, Científica y Tecnológica del Estado Mérida [On Line].
day: 2 April]
[Continuous Reference]
33
Com citar documents electrònics [en línea]. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona,
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