The world is facing a new reality after the pandemic and does not understand the seriousness of the consequences. Almost in an act of denial, peoples and their governments only observe the situation and do not seek lasting and sustainable public policies. Lack of leadership, some will say; others will argue that it is institutional incompetence or corruption; and the third will look for arguments in the geopolitical confrontations of the powers, their imperialism and hegemonic vision, the derivations of which further complicate the life of the common man in his daily struggle for survival.

Pope Francis tells us that poverty humiliates and kills, “it is misery, the daughter of injustice, exploitation, violence and unfair distribution of wealth”. The Secretary General of the United Nations maintains that “the world is going backwards” in the fight against poverty. COVID-19 has pushed millions of people into poverty, reversing decades of struggle for development and making alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals impossible.

Entrepreneurship and the fight against poverty

One of the most moving figures is poverty in the Ecuadorian countryside, where about 43% live in severe economic deprivation and 23% in conditions of extreme poverty. Furthermore, one in four Ecuadorians lives in poverty. What can we do?

We need to create new jobs, and for that it is necessary to break the ties that condemn Ecuador to misery. Immersed in a world of advanced technology, globally interconnected and with enormous opportunities, the short-term and selfish vision of powerful groups prevents the poor from having better days.

Poverty and hunger: what is the panorama of Ecuador before the first goals of sustainable development?

The big goals will be to condemn seven million Ecuadorians to poverty and create conditions for all other Ecuadorians to work and live in peace…

A trade agreement with the People’s China can open immeasurable opportunities for the export of products from all over Ecuador, but especially from the Sierra, where the poorest poor sectors are concentrated. The strategy of using the market for the benefit of the people is one of the lessons that China leaves us at this historical moment, after using intelligent strategies to lift 800 million out of poverty. Asia also opens its doors to us with the Treaty with South Korea.

With the United States, although there will be no trade agreement in the near future, initiatives to expand GSP, seek a new ATPDEA for Ecuador and finalize inclusion in the Caribbean Basin Initiative would provide greater access to that market.

The contract with Europe must be strengthened. We must try to take much more advantage of what it offers to give Ecuadorians jobs and dignity.

The national challenge is to return to these entrepreneurial and export sectors in order to create jobs, stop the bloodshed of migration, drive away the jaws of the drug trade and give the dignity that every Ecuadorian deserves.

The big goals will be to condemn seven million Ecuadorians to poverty and create conditions for all other Ecuadorians to work and live in peace and hope for the future. You don’t have to be afraid of challenges, you have to overcome them!! (OR)