Ambassador of Ecuador to Qatar, H E Pascual Del Cioppo
Doha, Qatar: Ecuador, traditionally known for exporting bananas and roses to Qatar, seeks to diversify its agricultural products and tap into the growing demand for high-quality chocolate.
The Ambassador of Ecuador to Qatar, H E Pascual Del Cioppo, speaking to The Peninsula recently, said that plans are underway for Ecuadorian cocoa to enter the chocolate industry in Qatar, with ambitious goals to make Doha a regional hub for distribution.
“We import a large quantity of bananas and roses from Ecuador, and now we’re focusing on expanding into dragon fruit and coffee. In the near future, we have exciting plans in the chocolate industry, especially with cocoa — since cocoa is the foundation of chocolate,” said the Ambassador.
“We’re already working on this and have sent samples to buyers and distributors. This initiative will not only serve Qatar but also make Doha a distribution hub for the region,” he added.
Building on the strengthening bilateral relations, Ecuador also aims to attract investments and introduce student exchange programmes in Qatar.
“Our relationship with Qatar is growing stronger each day. Qatar is becoming a close partner of my country, and we see great opportunities in the near future to attract investment from Qatar to Ecuador. From Qatar’s perspective, Ecuador offers a secure environment, which I believe is one of the most important factors we can promise. We also provide an excellent investment climate, with strong legal protections for investors,” said Ambassador Del Cioppo.
According to him, investing in Ecuador is highly profitable due to tax exemptions for the first five years and its abundant natural resources like natural gas, oil, minerals, and agriculture creates significant opportunities, especially in the gas sector, which aligns with Qatar’s expertise in energy.
“We can create a win-win situation by leveraging Qatar’s expertise. Qatar’s knowledge in gas extraction and commercialisation provides us with the opportunity to attract investments in the gas sector, benefiting both parties,” said the Ambassador.
Ecuador also intends to establish partnerships with universities, including Qatar University, to offer scholarships and exchange programmes for students.
“We are starting to collaborate with universities, including Qatar University, to establish an agreement that will allow students to receive scholarships. This initiative will help our students apply for these scholarships and also provide opportunities for exchange programmes,” he said.
“We welcome students to my country who are interested in exchanging experiences, particularly those studying in Qatar. We plan to send students for a semester abroad to gain professional experience. In addition, we aim to offer language exchange programs, including teaching Spanish to students from Qatar and people from Ecuador to learn Arabic here,” he added.
