“We don’t just sell bananas, we also sell security.” The assumption is that Richard Salazar, executive director of the Association for the Marketing and Export of Bananas of Ecuador (Acorbanec), said that this week he is promoting the banana sector in the European market, taking advantage of his participation in Fruit Attraction 2023, which takes place in Madrid from 2 to 5. October.

The security that Salazar mentions is related to contamination problems with illegal substances that have been detected in some banana shipments leaving Ecuador’s ports for Europe.

“One of the things we mention to our clients abroad is the positive news, despite all the negatives, which is the installation of scanners in various shipping ports as an important measure for peace of mind for exporters, but also to our clients abroad, news that we also conveyed, actually here there are several ports that also report this,” said Salazar from Madrid.

More than 60 tons of drugs seized in Ecuador from January to April

On the same day that the fruit and vegetable fair began in Spain, the President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, announced in Quito that the scanners will start working in seven ports and airports in Quito and Guayaquil by November 15. These teams, the president explained, will serve not only to detect illegality in the declaration of goods, but also to detect drug trafficking.

In the meantime, already focusing strictly on the commercial promotion of fruit, the head of Acorbanec pointed out that this year, for the second time in a row, the Ecuadorian delegation is the most numerous at the entire event, which is attended by delegations from more than 135 countries. In the case of Acorbanec partners, Salazar pointed out that about 24 companies have arrived, which are located on an area of ​​384 m².

“For us, our potential market is still the European Union, which is still our main market, and at this moment Ecuador has to take advantage of some comparative advantages, especially regarding the payment of the minimum wage, which Ecuador fulfills.” and it was ratified. compliance of institutions such as GIZ -German Society for International Cooperation-“, said leader Acorbanec.

Ecuador is asking for a better price, noting that the minimum wage will reach $562.50 in 2023

For its part, the Ecuador Banana Cluster also highlighted, in the technical forums at Fruit Attraction 2023, the importance of guaranteeing social sustainability and emphasized Ecuador’s pioneering role in guaranteeing decent wages in the banana industry. José Antonio Hidalgo, Executive Director of the Association of Banana Exporters of Ecuador (AEBE) and coordinator of the cluster, recalled that guaranteeing a decent wage for the workforce in his sector is not a mere labor policy decision, but is enshrined in the Constitution, which defines a legally binding living wage for everyone workers in the country, which is determined each year through an official negotiation process convened by the National Wage Council.

Hidalgo emphasized that the 2022 living wage was set at $475 per month in Ecuador by the Global Living Wage Coalition and the Anker Living Wage Research Institute, while the total wage for workers under national legislation with all social benefits in 2022 was $531.26 for workers with more than one year of work and $495.84 for workers with less than one year of work. In 2023, the monthly salary amount increased to $525.00 for workers with less than one year of service and $562.50 for workers with more than one year of service (which includes reserve fund and tithes).

“Earlier this year, a GIZ report showed that 99.36% of workers in Ecuador’s banana fields received a living wage. Therefore, it is crucial to highlight the advanced situation in Ecuador and allow exemptions for those farmers who comply during the various initiatives, and in the search for a harmonized approach within the World Banana Forum,” said Hidalgo, who is also based in Madrid.

The first study of German retailers highlights the payment of daily wages in banana factories in Ecuador

Meanwhile, Salazar added that the Cluster is also analyzing how social sustainability can be effectively achieved by applying the concept of shared responsibility. Looking ahead to upcoming contract negotiations for 2024, the leader believes that the issue of living wages in Ecuador cannot be discussed separately from a fair price for bananas.

José Antonio Hidalgo, executive director of the Ecuadorian Banana Exporters Association (AEBE) and Richard Salazar, executive director of the Ecuadorian Banana Marketing and Export Association (Acorbanec), participated on Tuesday, October 3, in a forum on shared responsibility, as part of the activities organized by World Banana Forum at Fruit Attraction 2023 in Madrid. Photo: Courtesy of AEBA

“Retailers (supermarkets) have an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to true shared responsibility. This requires long-term contractual commitments on the quantity of products, based on fair prices developed with the well-recognized sustainability certification scheme, Fairtrade, which takes into account the specificities of each producer country,” said the CEO of Acorbanec.

For example, he explained that farmers who adhere to the minimum wage policy – ​​as in Ecuador – should be exempted from the wage matrix, homologating the information already presented to their national labor authority so as not to overburden producers. administrative processes and audit costs, while focusing negotiations for Ecuador on long-term contracts and increased volumes, motivating a fully compliant country.

Ecuador’s tour of international markets includes Asia, Europe and the Middle East

From the Corporation for the Promotion of Exports and Investments (Corpei), which supports and coordinates with Ecuadorian companies their participation in fairs such as Fruit Attraction, it was pointed out that on several fronts. In September, he began a tour of international markets in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The first destination of the Ecuadorian companies was Asia Fruit Logistica, in Hong Kong.

It is followed by Expo Doha 2023, which opened last Monday in Qatar, as well as Fruit Attraction in Madrid, with the difference that the Qatari fair lasts six months, until March 2024. Furthermore, at this fair there are exhibitions of agriculture, forestry, aquaculture. , tourism and culture come together in the Arabian Gulf. Therefore, Ecuador will also be able to present products in these categories.

Such a widespread presence was achieved through the management of Corpei and public institutions such as the Embassy of Ecuador in Doha, chaired by Pascual del Cioppo. In fact, the ambassador is betting on the Arabian Gulf as a market to conquer, pointed out Eduardo Egas, executive president of Corpei.

Ecuador will go to the international fair in Madrid with its entire supply of pineapples, grapes, papayas and other fruits

“I am convinced that this region of the world, when it gets to know the quality of the Ecuadorian product, will be our market. It takes time, but it will be a safe and long-term market,” predicts Egas.

The head of Corpei indicated that these trade meetings represent an opportunity for the country’s manufacturing and export sectors. “For example, we arrived at the fair in Hong Kong with a plus as a country that already had a trade agreement with China. For the Expo in Doha, Ecuador has the opportunity to enter the Islamic market of the Arabian Gulf, which is characterized by high purchasing power,” he pointed out.

The tour of Ecuador ends with Germany. In this last point, processed food produced using local raw materials will be announced. According to Egas, these destinations will serve to “strengthen the presence of already known products, but also to promote innovation”.