Export sector asks to be part of the dialogue tables of the Government and indigenous sector

The export sector is concerned about the indigenous request that free trade agreements not be signed. They consider that this serves their own interests.

growth was in the order of 20% in dollars and 8% in volume, compared to 2020. Until December, this segment managed to place $18,091 million in different destinations worldwide.The Ecuadorian export sector asked to be taken into account in the process of dialogue tables between the indigenous sector and the Government, which will begin to take place this Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Having been one of the sectors hardest hit by the 18-day stoppage in June, a period in which losses of no less than$100 million, with a very pronounced impact on more than 800 exporting companies, the union considers that they have several issues to contribute. The request was made public this Tuesday at a press conference in which several representatives of the union were present.

Felipe Ribadeneira, president of the board of directors of the Federation of Exporters (Fedexpor), regretted that, despite having made a direct request to the ministries of the productive sector in charge of various issues, they have not received a response. He believes that society as a whole should participate in the debate and, for now, they feel excluded from this very important issue.

However, they said there is still time to get them involved. He assured that, in conversations with the prefect of Cotopaxi, they have agreed that the presence of the productive sector is important, especially because in this sector there is a commitment to produce, to attract investment and foreign currency.

The union representative explained thatOn the agenda of the indigenous sector is point three, in which they indicate that there should be no more trade agreements. For Ribadeneira this is an ideological and lyrical statement, which does not consider that among the greatest beneficiaries of this type of agreement are organic, agricultural products from the rural sectors of Ecuador.

Indeed, point three of the letter of demands made by the indigenous sector says verbatim: “Fair prices are required for farm products in the three regions of the country, agricultural subsidies and no FTA signatures, which destroy national production.”

For Ribadeneira, trade agreements are necessary to improve the competitiveness of Ecuadorian products. To reject them would be to go against the progress of the very foundations. He recalled that, when the agreement with the European Union (EU) was going to be signed, they thought it was going to be harmful. However, the facts show that, five years after the signing, there have been new exports by$600 million, 30,000 new jobs and 600 new export products.

He commented that, of the entire export market, 30% comes from the popular and solidarity economy, which has to do with fair trade, ethnic and organic markets. 75% of the export of this type of products goes to Europe.

Alejandro Martínez, from Expoflores, also asked that the productive sector be allowed to be part of the process. He commented that it is important to keep in mind the great objectives of the economy, which are to be more competitive and generate better and more products to lift the economy. He recalled that Ecuador isa dollarized economy and needs fresh dollars to arrive, both through exports and investments.Neither of the two issues is being promoted in the current situation.

Sagrario Angulo, representative of Camari and the Ecuadorian Populorum Progressio Fund (FEPP), a fair trade entity that exports products abroadHe explained that in his sector they are also interested in participating in the dialogue tables. He recalled that they work under standards and principles of fair trade, of having fraternal relationships, of caring for the environment, of recognizing women's work: “We must be present at these work tables, because we know the situation,” said Angulo.

Finally, according to Xavier Rosero, vice president of Fedexpor, the growth of exports in the first quarter was greater than 26%; However, there are several problems that would lead this good trend downwards. The strike will cause problems, since the total losses will begin to be seen in June. Regarding international issues, Russia's war with Ukraine and other geopolitical issues have generated an appreciation of the dollar that is detrimental to Ecuador's exports, as it makes it less competitive.

Exporters fear that this year there will be a slowdown in growth, which will no longer grow in double digits, as expected, but only in single digits.