Roberto Smith

Roberto Smith Perera
10th Minister of Transport & Communications
In office 26 July 1990 – 10 January 1992
Preceded by	Edgar Elias Osuna
Succeeded by	Fernando Martinez Mottola
Venezuela Ambassador to the European Union
In office September 1992 – October 2006
Preceded by	Jose Antonio Gil
Succeeded by	Luis Xavier Grisanti
Personal details
Born	1958 Barquisimeto, Lara State
Political party	Venezuela de Primera
Spouse	Marina Pocaterra
Profession	politician, businessperson

Roberto Smith Perera is a Venezuelan businessman and politician.

Early years & Education Activity

Roberto Smith Perera was born in Barquisimeto, in Lara State in 1958. He attended Colegio La Salle in Barquisimeto and Instituto Escuela in Caracas. He received a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from Universidad Simón Bolívar in 1981. He went on to obtain his Master's Degree and a Ph.D in Public Policy at Harvard University in Cambridge between 1983 and 1987. Roberto Smith is married to Marina Pocaterra since December 22, 1983; they met when they were studying at Universidad Simón Bolívar. They have three daughters: Maria Elisa, Maria Corina and Maria Sofia.

Smith was president of the Students' Center and a student delegate to the Directive Council and Superior Council of the Universidad Simón Bolívar. He was also coordinator of the "Seminario Venezuela" at Harvard and member of the board of directors of the Fundación Universidad Metropolitana and the Instituto de Ingeniería.

Public Activity

During the second presidential term of Carlos Andrés Pérez, Smith was appointed Minister of Transportation and Communications on July 26, 1990, a position where he would remain until January 10, 1992. During this period, he created the Venezuelan National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL) to promote private investments and modern government regulation in this sector, and the Urban Transportation Fund (FONTUR) to promote the modernization of public transport in the country.

Roberto Smith Perera served as ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, and Luxembourg between the years 1992 and 1996.

Smith has been a candidate in Vargas's gubernatorial election.

Business person

After finishing his Ph.D., Roberto Smith worked as a management consultant with McKinsey & Co's energy group between 1987 and 1989. in Washington D.C. He then moved back to Caracas to work as national coordinator of the Eight National Development Plan in the Presidential Office for Coordination and Planning.

Roberto Smith Perera served as president of IMPSAT Telecommunications in Caracas and the Sistema Satelital Andino Simón Bolívar. Smith helped create microjuris.com, an internet legal service for lawyers available in several countries in Latin America. He helped to establish Venezuela's third and largest cellular telephone company, Digitel in 1997. He served as its president between the years 1997 and 2002. He also helped found Digicel, a cellular telephone company in El Salvador and Guatemala.

He is currently dedicated to fund, create and develop new businesses in health, hospitality and tourism.

Works

• "Venezuela, Visión o Caos" (Planeta:1995) ISBN 980-271-247-7