7.2.1 Cantv (telecommunication) - Beyond its borders, the Venezuelan telecommunication company is working with China on a satellite project that has a social impact in improving the health conditions of the people of Venezuela. The entity ensured that the poor had access to advanced facilities such as CT scanners, telemedicine, etc. The entity also has the Kainai project, a partnership with Portugal to provide primary school children up to grade 6 with portable computers. These computers are assembled in the country and the process includes the training of staff. The objective is to ultimately ensure that these computers are not only assembled in Venezuela but are also manufactured in the country. The company has connected 65% of the population with fixed telephone lines and 69% of Venezuelans have access to mobile phones. To improve the quality of its services, the company has installed about 6 600 kilometres of optic fibre cable and about 4 500 homes have benefited from this initiative. 7.2.2 Conviasa (airline) - The airline provides services to meet the health needs of Venezuelans. It carries all patients booked for eye testing specialists. There were 500 eye inspections per year before Conviasa's assistance and most Venezuelans with eye problems died being blind. With Conviasa's help about 5 000 eye tests are carried out per week. The airline also forms part of Venezuela's international humanitarian mission. It transported 20 tons of food to Japan to help the victims of the earthquake including taking back home Latin Americans who were trapped in the country. 7.2.3 Aero Postal (airline) - The airline provides services to the poor and to rural communities through charging low fares for travelling. It is accessible to people who previously could not afford to fly. 7.2.4 Agropatria (agriculture) - Agropatria works with small and medium- sized producers. About 304 to 461 hectares of land is allocated to small-sized producers and about 159 to 287 hectares to medium-sized producers. Both producers are subsidised by the state and have access to loans from state banks. 7.2.5 Minerven (mining) - Mining companies are required by law to give 5% of their profits to the communal council (of the immediate community). In addition, the company should partner with the community and other stakeholders for the construction of multi-purpose community centres, schools, clinics, recreational parks, etc. 7.2.6 Corpoelec (electricity) - Once the process is completed the party envisages a socialistic management model of the electricity corporation which will include the workers of the corporation, communal councils as well as management members of the corporation. The process is, however, long and challenging and has its ups and downs as it involves a paradigm shift from capitalism to socialism. Such challenges are palpable even at the level of senior managers who worked for the previous government. Those who are unhappy with the new socialistic model have resigned. Some have, however, shown a willingness to work for the current regime. There are also those who are in the middle, referred to by the current regime as "neither nor", who on persuasion are prepared to work for the state. 7.2.7 Public banking sector - Public banks are profitable and provide social investment and services to the various communities. The public banks visit communities to investigate the needs of the people unlike the private banks. They reached the most needy sections of the population and provide loans with very low interest rates. The banks also provide the following services: . Produce funds for the social services of government; . Promote easy access to financing for small businesses, women and social projects; . Encourage the cultures of social responsibility; . Fund strategic entities such as food producers and housing projects. 7.2.8 Proforca (forestry) - The company employs about 18 000 workers and provides internship programmes for both undergraduate and post- graduate students. Government has initiatives that promote job creation and co-operatives in the following areas: . Anzoategue, which involves about 44 co-operatives and employs about 1 184 employees and covers about 2 700 hectares; . Bolivar, which involves about 32 co-operatives and employs about 842 employees and covers about 4 300 hectares; . Monagos, which involves about 45 co-operatives and employs about 1 088 employees and covers about 4 300 hectares. 7.2.9 Rail Institute - To address the needs of the people, the department is working with communal councils to identify projects that will improve people's conditions by giving them access to various destinations through rail and/or road. Training is provided to members of community councils to operate train stations. The project goes beyond rail as it includes other SOEs, through the Social Responsibility Law to either build schools or community centres. 7.2.10 PDVSA (oil company) - The company contributes to education, health and other social programmes, including providing shelter for the homeless and victims of mudslides during heavy rains. The company funded. 7.2.11 Sidor (iron and steel company) - The entity has produced large volumes of steel, and has prioritised production for housing at a low cost. This has assisted communities to access steel in order to build houses. 7.2.12 The government was able to eradicate fee schools up to PhD level. There are scholarship opportunities to train young people from South Africa in the areas of engineering for free.