Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 9 June (BelTA) – Belarus and Ecuador can cooperate successfully in the production sector and agriculture, BelTA learned from member of the Ecuadorian parliament Ricardo Zambrano.

Ricardo Zambrano said that Ecuador has always been interested in cooperation with Belarus in agriculture. Belarus is famous for its fertilizers, mechanical engineering products, and agricultural machines. “These are what Ecuador needs now,” said the MP. “The manufacturing model is being changed in our country now. The key goals we are after are raising productiveness and diversifying manufacturing. We would also like Ecuadorian products to have a larger added value. Ecuador boasts very rich natural resources but we have yet to reach the development level of the production sector and other branches that Belarus has. Belarusian experience and capabilities are important for us.”

Ecuador is a country with a high level of biodiversity, noted Ricardo Zambrano. Ecuador is ready to sell a wide choice of agricultural products to Belarus, including coffee, cocoa, corn, and asparagus.

Belarus can consume these products domestically or process them and sell on other markets, noted the MP.

Ricardo Zambrano also pointed out the lack of a direct trade route between Belarus and Ecuador. The absence of such a route makes mutual deliveries of raw materials and products difficult in addition to increasing import costs. “This is why it is necessary to work on convenient routes so that trade flow between our countries would be faster and cheaper,” said Ricardo Zambrano.

As part of their stay in Belarus the Ecuadorian MPs Ricardo Zambrano and Maria Soledad Buendia visited the international agribusiness expo Belagro 2017. They said they had been impressed by the expo and the capabilities of Belarusian agribusiness.