Ecuadors Foreign Minister Gabriela Strengthens Ties with India During Official Visit

New Delhi, May 2: Ecuador’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, Gabriela Somerfeld Rosero, recently concluded a two-day official visit to India from April 29 to 30. This visit marked a significant step in enhancing bilateral relations between the two nations.

During her trip, Rosero emphasized the importance of increasing cooperation in various sectors, including trade, health, agriculture, and digital infrastructure. On April 29, she met with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, where both parties committed to strengthening collaboration in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, investment, digital technology, and multilateral cooperation. Ecuador also formally submitted letters to join the International Solar Alliance and the International Big Cat Alliance.

Both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), under which India will provide up to ₹120 crores in grant assistance to Ecuador over the next five years, aimed at promoting socio-economic development projects.

During her visit, Rosero also met with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss the roadmap for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), pharmaceutical exports, and the supply chain of minerals like copper and gold.

To enhance cooperation in the health sector, she held discussions with Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, agreeing on issues such as affordable medicines, medical systems, and the recognition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia. Both nations also reached an agreement on an MoU in the health sector.

Rosero visited the Jan Aushadhi Kendra at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi to understand India’s model for affordable medicines, which Ecuador is considering implementing.

In the digital sector, she expressed interest in India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) initiative, which includes payment systems like UPI, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), and identity systems like Aadhaar.

During her visit, she paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat and engaged with representatives of the Indian business community at a meeting organized by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Additionally, she inaugurated a cultural center at the Ecuadorian Embassy in New Delhi.

This visit follows the opening of the Indian Embassy in Quito in November 2025, highlighting the growing significance of India-Ecuador relations.