In 2002, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez fired 20,000 oil workers. These people had years of experience. Once they were fired, they moved to other countries where their experience would be used. Hundreds of the workers went to Colombia. They were attracted to this country because it was largely unexplored. Since they moved there and helped with the start of new oil companies, Colombia's gain has been Venezuela's loss. While Colombia's production rose from 500,000 barrels a day in 2005 to 1 million barrels today, Venezuela's oil production has fallen. Venezuela was once the fifth-largest exporter in the world and now it is down to 11th place.