Cooperation and green hydrogen mark meeting between Ecuador and Saudi Arabia

Cooperation in security, technology transfer, knowledge in agro-exports and a possible free trade agreement were the topics addressed in the meeting that President Guillermo Lasso held with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir.

President Lasso and Saudi Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir.

The senior Saudi official had a meeting this Sunday, February 20, 2022, with the President of Ecuador and the Foreign Minister, Juan Carlos Holguín, at the Carondelet Palace to address issues such as investment, trade, cooperation in education, ecological transition, among others, indicated the Secretary of Communication. 

Holguín described the event as very positive. He reported that one of the results is that “a conversation has begun to think about a free trade agreement between the two countries,” which would be a great contribution to strengthening a bilateral relationship that will allow commercial expansion in the future.  

The Saudi minister agreed on this, noting that “there are tremendous opportunities to collaborate in all areas: agriculture, energy, technology, tourism and thus work together to improve opportunities to take advantage of them for the benefit of both countries.” 

Precisely, during the meeting it was analyzed that Saudi Arabia currently has a comprehensive Food Security Plan, within which some Ecuadorian products play a fundamental role, for which possible contributions in terms of technology transfer and knowledge around agro- exports were reviewed. and agriculture.  

Security was another of the topics discussed at the meeting. “Within the framework of the ecological transition, planning has begun to work jointly with Saudi Arabia, one of the world leaders in renewable energies. This topic dealt with green hydrogen and the future of oil”, said the foreign minister. 

Information on the academic field was also reviewed to benefit exchange students, investments and trade between the Arab world and Latin America. “I am very optimistic about the relationship with your country and look forward to continuing to work together,” said the Saudi minister.