Fresh fruit exports from Ecuador to the UAE grew by 97 per cent in 2013 according to Pro Ecuador, the South American country’s trade and investment promotion agency. The organisation recently arranged for another delegation of Dubai-based businessmen to visit Ecuador with the purpose of promoting trade between the two countries.
The two-day business matchmaking event in Guayaquil, entitled Macrorrueda de Negocios Ecuador 2014, attracted 500 exporters and 150 international importers and is expected to generate US$210m in business this year.
Pro Ecuador also arranged a series of tours and visits which enabled the delegation to learn more about Ecuador's products at farms and factories and to increase their knowledge of the processes used by Ecuadorian exporters.
“The UAE is the second biggest trading partner for Ecuador in the Gulf states, accounting for 19.44 per cent of trade after Saudi Arabia,” said Hussam Hassan, head of the Ecuadorian commercial office in Dubai.
“The Macrorrueda event is expected to show investors and those wishing to trade with Ecuador that the quality of products in Ecuador's key sectors is to be valued for its freshness, innovation and unique offerings.”
One of the UAE delegation was KAF Group, a fruit and vegetable company headquartered in Dubai, which delivers a variety of 1,200 different products sourced from over 100 suppliers around the globe. Siam Trading, another Dubai-based company is also looking forward to increasing its trade within the fruits and seafood products with Ecuador through its participation in the business matchmaking event.
The top four Ecuadorian products that are widely exported to the UAE are frozen shrimps, accounting for 46.07 per cent of exports; bananas at 11.97 per cent; flowers at 6.53 per cent and fruit pulps and puree at 6.44 per cent.
