On Monday, Ecuador began the first round of negotiations on the trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), comprising Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
According to the Andean country's Ministry of Foreign Trade (COMEX), their main objective is to conquer new markets for Ecuadorian products.
Domestic products such as bananas, tuna, shrimp and fresh roses could take advantage of EFTA markets, which in 2015 had imports of approximately 335.417 billion dollars.
The leader of Comex, Juan Carlos Cassinelli, said the Ecuadorian government seeks to open new markets. He stressed that he has "the certainty that during the negotiations reaching agreements in a fair manner in order to advance as their primary directive."
According to Comex EFTA countries are made up of a population of 13.5 million people, with high purchasing power, which makes them potential consumers of high quality and added value products.
To Cassinelli, the trade agreement with the European bloc "will strengthen existing trade relations, build up unexplored markets, increase foreign direct investment and diversify Ecuadorian exports".
