Ecuador and Japan Boost Cooperation

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa welcomed Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to Quito on Wednesday, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations. The meeting, part of Motegi's international tour, focused on deepening cooperation across key sectors including economy, security, and environmental protection.

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Based on the presidential visit last year, we want to continue strengthening cooperation between both countries, especially in the economic sphere.

Motegi's visit, his third stop after Mexico and Panama, underscores Japan's commitment to reinforcing its international partnerships in Latin America. A spokesperson for Japan's Foreign Ministry highlighted the goal of "achieving greater resilience and prosperity together." This includes strengthening national economies and enhancing resilience, particularly in supply chains, an area where Japan possesses extensive experience.

Japan views Ecuador as a valuable partner, particularly given its rich natural resources. The country has a long history of importing crude oil from Ecuador. Beyond economic ties, Japan aims to collaborate on disaster risk reduction, sharing its expertise in managing natural calamities, which both nations are susceptible to. In security matters, Japan supports Ecuador in maintaining maritime order and combating illegal fishing.

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We want to collaborate with each of the countries to make our national economies more prosperous and resilient. From the perspective of resilience, we need to strengthen our capabilities, especially in supply chains.

The ongoing dialogue also aims to foster a secure environment for investment. Currently, 19 Japanese companies operate in Ecuador, with aspirations for further expansion. This diplomatic engagement follows a June memorandum of understanding establishing an Economic and Commercial Committee to boost trade and investment, and a prior meeting between Noboa and representatives from Japan's powerful business federation, Keidanren.

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We would like to work with the Ecuadorian government on issues of risk reduction and disaster prevention.