Clusters are collaborative strategies with the participation of the public and private sectors, which promote the competitiveness of productive sectors.
Members of the Superfoods cluster, together with former Minister of Production Daniel Legarda, at an event in 2023.
In recent years, Ecuador has promoted the development of clusters in different productive sectors, a public-private collaboration strategy, focused on issues such as competitiveness and innovation.
According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), there are 11 cluster initiatives in Ecuador.
However, the Ministry of Production of Ecuador explains to PRIMICIAS that ECLAC only highlights clusters that have reached a significant level of maturity. But in Ecuador there are already ” 25 clusters. All established and operational.”
According to ECLAC, Chile has 98 clusters, while countries like Colombia have 84 clusters and Mexico with 21. And Peru has the least, with just one.
In total, there are 259 cluster or productive-territorial articulation initiatives in the region, in which more than 40,000 companies participate.
Agriculture, livestock and fishing is the sector with the largest number of clusters in Latin America and the Caribbean, with 60 initiatives. Tourism and manufacturing follow with just over 40 each.
What is a cluster and what does it look for?
The website of the Ministry of Production defines a cluster as an interconnected group of companies, suppliers, related industries and institutions in a certain field “that compete and collaborate at the same time.”
It is not a union , clarifies the former Minister of Production, Daniel Legarda. The unions are there to represent the interests of the members, while the clusters seek the construction of public policies, from the private sector, with support from the public sector and academia.
Its main objectives are:
- Work for productive specialization.
- Link local and regional companies.
- Generate local added value.
- Increase the capacity for innovation and technological development.
- Boost national and international investment.
Cluster initiatives in Ecuador
In Ecuador, more than 20 cluster initiatives were promoted during the Government of Guillermo Lasso. Finally, they moved forward and continued with their implementation about half of it, explains Legarda.
Although, the Ministry of Production assures that there are 25, as mentioned before.
In Ecuador, the clusters included in the ECLAC study are made up of 359 companies.
Four of the 11 clusters that ECLAC includes in its report are in the agriculture and livestock sector; three, in transportation, storage and communications; two, in manufacturing industries; one, in the financial sector, and one, in health.
The majority were formed in 2022. In fact, that was the year that the most initiatives of this type were created in Latin America and the Caribbean, with 99, according to the ECLAC report.
In Ecuador, the oldest is the financial one, established in July 2019, and it even has legal personality. This cluster is also the largest, made up of 80 companies, specialized suppliers and institutions in the financial sector.
The financing
The clusters receive funding from the state and international organizations, in addition to the contributions of their own members, for the development of different projects.
In 2023, the Government provided financing to about six clusters for an amount of between USD 60,000 and 80,000 each, details former Minister Legarda.
Among the benefited clusters were Logistics, Digital Transformation, Forestry Industry (wood) and Superfoods.
Some have also received international support. The Superfoods cluster obtained financing of USD 60,000 from the European Union , in addition to the USD 80,000 granted to it by the Government, indicates Martín Acosta, president of the group.
Participation in international fairs
The Superfoods cluster is made up of 30 private companies in the sector. In addition, three universities, strategic allies, ProEcuador and other secretariats of the Ministry of Production, the Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters (Fedexpor) and the National Association of Food and Beverage Manufacturers (Anfab) participate.
Since the last quarter of 2022, they have met once a month in a type of general assembly to promote different projects, through working groups, such as the competitiveness one, which has focused on sustainability and safety certifications.
Acosta explains that one of the benefits of the cluster is that they have been able to jointly participate in international trade fairs. In 2022 they were in Holland and in February 2023 they hope to go to Germany.
In addition, they carry out at least two monthly training sessions for member companies on topics such as leadership, exports and sustainability.
The cluster, whose administration is in charge of Fedexpor, plans to soon launch an umbrella brand that represents them as superfoods in the national market, which will be called Emira.
This cluster covers different brands of products, classified as superfoods, including grapes, blueberries, chochos, quinoa, miracle fruit and amaranth.
“I found it incredible the way we have managed to work together. It is a group of support, synergies, friendship, governance. We are laying the foundations so that this lasts over time,” says Acosta.
Note: This news, published on January 22, 2024, at 10:00, was updated the same day at 2:03 p.m. to include the Ministry of Production’s explanation of the number of clusters the country has.
