In the first two months of 2026, Ecuador exported a remarkable $27.8 million to Africa, while its imports reached $6.5 million, marking significant economic activity between these regions. Ecuador is making concerted efforts to enhance its commercial presence in Morocco, as evidenced by a recent official visit from Gabriela Sommerfeld, a representative of Ecuador's Foreign Ministry. During her visit, Sommerfeld engaged in a series of meetings aimed at exploring new strategic markets and creating opportunities for trade, investment, and cooperation between the two nations.
One of the key highlights of Sommerfeld's trip was her leadership in a Business Meeting involving the Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises. This engagement served to solidify mutual interest in expanding trade exchanges, attracting investments, and stimulating job creation in both countries. Furthermore, Sommerfeld met with representatives from OCP Group, a significant player in Morocco's economy and a global leader in food security and innovation, emphasizing the productive discussions held during her visit.
Additionally, Sommerfeld toured the Tangier Med Port, a critical logistics hub for Africa and the Mediterranean region, where discussions focused on opportunities to enhance Ecuador's connectivity with strategic markets. This visit aimed to leverage Morocco's expertise in port management and logistics to boost Ecuador's export capabilities. In Tangier, she also met with the governor responsible for Regional Internal Affairs, Oulaid Lemsaferr, to discuss essential topics such as trade, investment, security, and logistics development.
The current trade exchanges with Morocco are still developing. According to the Central Bank of Ecuador, trade data for the African continent is consolidated rather than broken down by individual countries. In comparison, Ecuador's total exports to Africa in 2025 were $35.7 million, with imports at $6.9 million. In a diplomatic context, Sommerfeld held discussions with her Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, covering priority areas including trade, agriculture, infrastructure, and energy. They also discussed the upcoming opening of the Moroccan Embassy in Ecuador, a move aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties.
Moreover, Sommerfeld met with the Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, to review the progress of the trade Memorandum of Understanding, which is currently in its final stages. This highlights Morocco's strategic role as a gateway to African markets. During the visit, both nations signed a joint communiqué outlining the key agreements reached and reaffirming their commitment to deepening bilateral relations across various strategic sectors.
As reported by expreso.ec.
