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Qatar

Ecuador plans to set up distribution hub at Hamad Port

Published: 24 Apr 2018 - 08:58 am | Last Updated: 28 Dec 2021 - 05:44 pm
Ivonne A Baki, Ambassador of Ecuador to Qatar, during a press conference on the visit of a trade delegation from Ecuador. Pic: Baher Amin / The Peninsula

Ivonne A Baki, Ambassador of Ecuador to Qatar, during a press conference on the visit of a trade delegation from Ecuador. Pic: Baher Amin / The Peninsula

Sanaullah Ataullah | The Peninsula

DOHA: With an ambitious plan to set up a hub at Hamad Port to distribute food products in Qatar and across the region, a trade delegation comprising of over 20 businessmen from the private sector of Ecuador will start Qatar’s visit today.

The delegation includes representatives of Ecuadorian producers of chocolate, coffee, banana, flowers, processed food, sea food, aquaculture, textile, handcrafts and many more, said Ivonne A Baki, Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador to Qatar.

The Ambassador was speaking at a press conference held at her residence to brief about the visit. “Hamad Port could be hub for our products like banana, sea food and other various organic products to supply to Qatar and other places of the region,” said A Baki. 

She said as per the schedule, the businessmen will visit Hamad Port, Free Trade Zone and Manatiqe tomorrow, where they were given presentation about how to set up a business hub for food products imported from Ecuador.

“Ecuador is exporting various high quality food products, our first source of income is oil export, followed by banana, shrimps and roses secured third and fourth places, respectively in terms of providing income to the country,” said the Ambassador. 

She said that Ecuador is rich with fertile land and favourable environment producing organic products and roses. “The visit of trade delegation is part of state ambition to increase the trade volume between two countries from about $10m to manifolds by supplying food and non food products,” said A. Baki.

“Qatar is under blockade working to ensure food security which is good opportunity for us to increase the relation in this sector,” said the Ambassador. She said to boost the trade relation between the two countries, businessmen of Ecuador will meet Qatari businessmen during their visit to Qatar.

A reception under “The International Trade Network: Ecuador-Qatar-2018” will be held on Thursday, where local importers will meet directly with the representatives of Ecuadorian producers. She hinted that Ecuador is great experience in agriculture sector and using advanced innovative technology in this sector which could be helpful in transferring to Qatar and establishing joint ventures to boost the local agricultural products in the country. 

The Ambassador said that she had met the Minister of Municipality and Environment recently who showed interest in boosting bilateral relations in agriculture and environment sectors.