Kurt Freund: Encourage Israeli innovation and technology to be incorporated into Ecuador

The Ecuadorian-Israeli Chamber of Innovation and Commerce (Cicei) was launched on November 29 with the aim of delving into three axes: trade, investment and education between Ecuador and Israel. Kurt Freund, president of the union, details the perspectives that the organization has and what it is aiming for to strengthen relations between the two nations.

After the creation of the Ecuador-Israel Chamber of Innovation and Commerce (Cicei), what is the next step?

Analyze part of the Israeli innovation environment to transfer it to Ecuador and repower different sectors. Israel’s entrepreneurship and innovation model can be embraced in the country so that businesses are projected abroad. It would be to achieve a fluid exchange of knowledge between both countries and to encourage innovation and technology from Israel to be incorporated into Ecuador.

What potential segments has Ecuador been identified as having?

There are growth possibilities for the agricultural sector, for example. There are also small and medium-sized companies related to agro-exports that have been projected towards international markets, including Israel.

Ecuador-Israel Chamber of Innovation and Commerce seeks to strengthen trade, innovation and education

Is the perspective to raise the level of exchange that exists between Ecuador and Israel?

Precisely one of the lines of work of the Chamber is to open the Israeli market for Ecuadorian companies. Let us bear in mind that opening up this market opens the way to the Middle East, in a certain way. It is analyzed bringing companies from Israel that use cutting-edge technology to establish themselves in the country and help to repower the Ecuadorian supply. Israel is a small nation that exports to all of Europe, this is what we want to achieve with Ecuador, which has a greater potential in its exportable offer.

Is there an opportunity for the Ecuadorian food industry?

This is an important field of development, getting the food industries interested in achieving Kosher or Halal certifications, that is, producing food suitable for consumption according to Jewish religious standards. There is much that can be achieved in this field so that the Ecuadorian industry can broaden its horizons.

The banana sector was one of those interested in Israeli technology.

We hope that the interest that the sector had in technologies and varieties resistant to Fusarium Race 4 will continue and can now be managed and promoted by the Chamber. In the pillar of innovation, which is promoted by the union, is to bring technologies in defense of nematodes for agricultural projects, in general. In addition, there is the intention that with the arrival of Israeli companies it is possible to move towards a sustainable organic agriculture that is tied to the circular economy.

Other interesting fields to get Israel’s attention?

Cybersecurity and everything that has to do with technology, artificial intelligence and mobile applications. There is a great professional exchange opportunity and a good investment possibility for these fields. Bring a lot of technology that helps to promote the issue of cyber security.

What additional action is required to complement the bilateral relationship?

It is said that for the planned visit of President Guillermo Lasso to Israel for 2022 there will be the accompaniment of a parallel business delegation that seeks to open and see the potential of the bilateral business. This will make it possible to echo the interest that exists on the part of Ecuador and reaffirm the intention to take advantage of the ecosystem offered by the innovation office in Jerusalem that it was agreed to share with Colombia.

To what year has the prospect of concreting investment projects been drawn?

Investment projects are projected to be completed in 2022. Throughout the next year, it is expected to expose the opportunities that exist in Ecuador, through trade fairs and exhibitions, in order to attract the interest of investors from that country.

Are you getting closer to the other productive unions?

We are identifying private sectors in all areas that want to have relationships with Israeli companies for progress and mutual benefit. With the Quito Chamber of Commerce, for example, an agreement has already been signed. We hope in the first semester of 2022 to promote this and that by the end of that year there will be concrete projects.

In the long term, do you hope to be able to reach a trade agreement with Israel?

It must be promoted because that can greatly open up the Middle Eastern market for Ecuador. (I)