Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa said during a meeting with Peruvian Foreign Trade Minister Martín Pérez that he hopes his country will be able to increase investment ties with neighboring Peru, state news agency Andina reported.
Pérez was in Ecuador leading a delegation of about 100 Peruvian business representatives during events in Quito and Guayaquil. His meeting with Correa was aimed at strengthening bilateral trade, investments, and developing tourism between the two Andean countries.
“We both agreed that the investment levels between Peru and Ecuador is insignificant for the potential that each country has,” Pérez was quoted as saying.
Correa is reportedly planning a trip to Peru in May.
Meanwhile, Ecuador’s minister of coordinating production, Nathalie Cely, said Peruvian exports to Ecuador have grown by 52 percent during the last three years, according to a separate Andina report.
Cely added that Peru’s exports have grown 28 percent annually between 1999 and 2009, when they totaled $573 million.
“There are many opportunities to deepen trade and investment,” Cely said. “Ecuador has to overcome various challenges in its productivity structure to take advantage of the advantages from a growing Peru.”
