"A strategic partnership is a formal alliance between two commercial enterprises, usually formalized by one or more business contracts but falls short of forming a legal partnership or, agency, or corporate affiliate relationship.

Typically two companies form a strategic partnership when each possesses one or more business assets that will help the other but that it does not wish to develop internally.

One common strategic partnership involves one company providing engineering, manufacturing or product development services, partnering with a smaller, entrepreneurial firm or inventor to create a specialized new product. Typically, the larger firm supplies capital, and the necessary product development, marketing, manufacturing, and distribution capabilities, while the smaller firm supplies specialized technical or creative expertise"

This is a huge development almost from scratch when you think of the infrastructure required. I have worked at Base metal and Gold mines in Northern Quebec. seeing that Hoov was at some mine in Que recently we may share some common ground. Parlez vous francais?

This partnership has been negotiated over sometime. Must have every detail needed to satisfy all and i can't see Vz not being involved.

I think it is all about proper timing by communist leager Hugo Chavez and the fact that this outcome is 100 percent political. Local and International is my feeling.