Ecuador seeks direct contacts with Belarus

MINSK, 13 September (BelTA) – Ecuador shows interest in establishing direct contacts with Belarus, Director of the Institute for Export and Investment Promotion Pro Ecuador Manuel Echeverria told media at the Belarusian-Ecuadorian business forum in Minsk on 13 September, BelTA has learnt.

“Belarus and Ecuador used to trade via third countries. There were mediators between our countries. Today our government is interested in establishing direct contacts both in the political and economic areas. We are interested in direct supplies of our products and Belarus shows interest in our goods,” the director of the institute said.

Manuel Echeverria believes that the Belarusian market has every necessary for Ecuador to advance its goods, which, according to him, have been recognized on the world’s stage. Among them are bananas, flowers, roses in particular, seafood and many more.

Deputy Chairperson of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Natalia Nikandrova stated in her opening speech that Belarus is interested in strengthening cooperation with Ecuador. “Today Ecuador is a rapidly developing country, an active participant in the operation of the World Trade Organization. This country has already viewed among world producers in some types of commodities such as fruits, vegetables, flowers and fish. Many of these goods cannot be produced in Belarus due to the lack of the relevant climatic conditions or no access to sea. Belarus is highly interested in the search and organization of the most optimal schemes of sales and supplies of such products to the country,” she noted. With this, according to her, Ecuador also shows its initiative and is seeking additional opportunities to develop cooperation with Belarus. “Ecuador has a considerable potential of growth in every business area, and I hope that our joint work will be mutually beneficial since Belarus also has a lot to offer,” she emphasized.

According to Natalia Nikandrova, the main attractive factors in the cooperation with Belarus include knowledge content in the economy, favorable doing business conditions and geographic advantages. Thus, Belarus is a bridge between the European Union and eastern countries, makes part of the huge market with Russia and Kazakhstan where goods move free of duty and fall under common rules.

Natalia Nikandrova expressed hope that the Belarusian-Ecuadorian business forum that is taking place in Minsk today would make another step in strengthening business contacts between the two countries. In her words, the event was initiated by the Institute for Export and Investment Promotion Pro Ecuador. “The Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been successfully cooperating with this institute. The bilateral relations have been business-like from the very beginning,” she noted. The agreement between the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Pro Ecuador was signed by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries in Quito on 28 June 2012.