Canadian Government promotes mining in EcuadorAugust 24, 2009 (2:10 p.m. EDT)
No. 230
Minister Day Promotes Canadian Business in Ecuador
The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Ministerfor the Asia-Pacific Gateway, opened doors for Canadian business today inQuito, Ecuador, a vibrant, emerging market.
“Ensuring free and open trade and investment is vital to the internationalresponse to the global economic recession,” said Minister Day. “It isimportant during this time of economic downturn to ensure doors are openedfor Canadian business, especially here in the Americas.”
While in Ecuador, the Minister met with high-ranking Ecuadorian officials,including Lenin Moreno, Ecuador’s Vice-President; Lautaro Pozo, ActingMinister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Integration; Galo Borja, CoordinatingMinister for Strategic Sectors; Germánico Pinto, Minister of Mines andPetroleum; and Augusto Barrera, Mayor of Quito. They explored waysCanada and Ecuador can work more closely and efficiently together to resistprotectionism and ways to further improve the investment climate forCanadian companies in Ecuador, namely in key sectors such as infrastructureand mining.
The Minister also promoted new measures recently implemented by theGovernment of Canada to help Canadian mining, oil and gas companies meetand exceed their social and environmental responsibilities when operatingabroad (also known as “corporate social responsibility.”)
“Canadian companies are major investors in Ecuador’s mining sector,” saidMinister Day. “It was important for me to be here to promote our leadershipin this sector. Whether it is protecting the environment, helping communitiesor respecting the position of Indigenous peoples, we think responsibility andeconomic prosperity can go hand in hand.”
During his visit, Minister Day also met with Ramón Espinel, Minister ofAgriculture, Livestock, Aquaculture and Fisheries, and thanked Ecuador fortaking steps to remove its ban on Canadian beef, offal and cattle. MinisterDay asked for the earliest possible final decision for trade in those productsto resume and also requested the early removal of Ecuador’s ban onCanadian live swine. “Our government will stand up and fight alongsidehard-working Canadian cattle and hog farmers affected by these bans,” saidMinister Day.
While in Quito, Minister Day delivered a speech to the Chamber ofCommerce Canada-Ecuador, in which he talked about his tour of the NewQuito International Airport and the Canadian Commercial Corporation(CCC)’s involvement in that project. “This involvement shows Canada’sability to meet important infrastructure needs for all Ecuadorians,” said theMinister. “This is also a good example of how CCC continues to support jobcreation back home in Canada, while simultaneously contributing to theEcuadorean economy through sourcing of local products and technologies.”
In 2008, bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Ecuador totalled$415 million. Top Canadian merchandise exports to Ecuador that year werecereals (wheat and maslin), paper, paperboard and machinery. Topmerchandise imports from Ecuador were fruits and nuts (mainly bananas),live trees and plants (cut flowers), and fish and seafood.
For more information about Canada’s policy on Corporate SocialResponsibility, please see Minister Day Promotes Responsible Practices forCanadian Businesses Abroad.
For more info about Minister Day’s visit, please see Ministerial visit to Braziland Ecuador.