Ecuador Cuts Ministries from 14 to 10 in Major State Overhaul

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa has officially reduced the number of state ministries from 14 to 10, enacting the most significant state restructuring in years. This move, formalized through executive decrees, aims to streamline government operations, enhance resource allocation, and improve the delivery of public services.

The reorganization consolidates several key areas. The new Ministry of Economic Development and Productive integrates the former ministries of Economy and Finance, Agriculture and Livestock, and Production, Foreign Trade, Investments, and Fisheries. This merger is intended to foster direct coordination between fiscal, productive, and agricultural policies, thereby reducing management times.

Additionally, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Technology is established, combining the competencies of Transportation and Public Works with Telecommunications and Information Society. This aims to link physical infrastructure planning with the nation's digital transformation processes. A third major change is the creation of the Ministry of Labor and Human Development, which merges the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion, and secretariats related to indigenous peoples and social registration, focusing on employment, social protection, and vulnerable groups.

According to the General Secretariat of Public Administration and Planning, this reduction is part of a broader strategy to distribute public resources more effectively. The government argues that fewer ministries will facilitate inter-institutional coordination and minimize administrative duplication, reflecting a vision for a more efficient state. However, specialists caution that the ultimate success of this restructuring will depend on its effective implementation and the government's ability to achieve its stated objectives.