RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – New Chilean President Gabriel Boric supports Ecuador’s intention to join the Pacific Alliance, the Andean country’s government adviser Carlos Jijón said Monday.
In a press conference, Jijón called last week’s visit to Chile by Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso, who attended Boric’s inauguration, “successful.”
The presidential adviser said the meeting between Lasso and Boric was “cordial”. During it, the new Chilean leader “reiterated his enthusiasm for supporting Ecuador’s accession to the Pacific Alliance, which is one of the main objectives of the Quito government.
The Pacific Alliance is a regional integration mechanism created in 2011 by Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, of which Ecuador aspires to become the fifth full member with observer status.
To obtain this status, the candidate country must sign trade agreements with each full member. Thus, Ecuador, which already has deals with Chile, Peru, and Colombia, must complete negotiations with Mexico, which began last August.
Ecuador’s accession to the Pacific Alliance is one of the main objectives of Lasso, who assumed the presidency last May.
On the other hand, Jijón added that during his visit, Lasso met with representatives of the four main business groups in Chile to present them with an investment portfolio.
“He explained to them his intentions to increase investment to reach US$35 billion in investment over the next four years, a policy that will create two million jobs for Ecuadorians,” he said, referring to Chile as an “important ally” for the promotion of projects.
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