Ecuador is divided into 24 provinces, each of which is headed by a presidentially appointed governor and a prefect elected by popular vote. Since 9 September 2000, the legal currency in Ecuador has been the US dollar.
The productive sectors to experience the most growth in recent years are: construction, of both public and residential works; retail and restaurants, due to increased disposable income; tourism; the food industry, especially fisheries and canned seafood; and automobile assembly, both for the domestic market and for export to Venezuela.
Ecuador posted a trade deficit in 2012 of $142 million, with $23.858 billion in exports (up 7.1 % from the previous year) and $24 billion in imports (an increase of 4.7%).
After a long period of intense political instability, including several different presidencies, on 26 November 2006, the economist Rafael Correa became head of state in the second round of the presidential elections.
Ecuador has an ambitious, globally oriented foreign policy that seeks to deepen and expand its diplomatic relations beyond its traditional partners, namely, the countries of the Western hemisphere and Europe. To this end, it recently established new trade and political relations with various countries in Asia (China, one of Ecuador’s main financial partners, South Korea, Iran and the Gulf states) and Africa.
In this session, H.E. Mr Victor Fagilde González, Ambassador of Spain in Quito, will offer an overview of the current economic, political, and social situation in the country and of its trade and diplomatic relations with Spain.
Date: 22 October 2014
Aimed at: Journalists and business leaders (by express invitation of CEI International Affairs)
Time: from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Place: Av. Vallvidrera, 25, Barcelona
Contact: Ms Àngels Vara
Price: 75 euros (for the lunch)
Kindly confirm your participation by phone at 93 205 45 16 or email at avara-cei@ub.edu.