Political parties and leaders:
Center-Right parties: Social Christian Party (PSC), Jaime NEBOT Saadi,
president; Republican Unity Party (PUR), President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN,
leader; Ecuadorian Conservative Party (PCE), Vice President Alberto
DAHIK, president
Center-Left parties: Democratic Left (ID), Andres VALLEJO Arcos,
Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos, leaders; Popular Democracy (DP), Rodrigo PAZ,
leader; Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party (PLRE), Medardo MORA, leader;
Radical Alfarista Front (FRA), Jaime ASPIAZU Seminario, director
populist parties: Roldista Party (PRE), Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz,
director; Concentration of Popular Forces (CFP), Rodolfo BAQUERIZO
Nazur, leader; Popular Revolutionary Action (APRE), Frank VARGAS
Passos, leader
Far-Left parties: Popular Democratic Movement (MPD), Juan Jose
CASTELLO, leader; Ecuadorian Socialist Party (PSE), Leon ROLDOS,
leader; Broad Leftist Front (FADI), Rene Mauge MOSQUERA, chairman;
Ecuadorian National Liberation (LN), Alfredo CASTILLO, director
Communists: Communist Party of Ecuador (PCE, pro-North Korea), Rene
Mauge MOSQUERA, Secretary General; Communist Party of
Ecuador/Marxist-Leninist (PCMLE, Maoist)
Member of: AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,
IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edgar TERAN Teran chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Newark
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter F. ROMERO embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito mailing address: APO AA 34039-3420 telephone: [593] (2) 562-890, 561-624, 561-749 FAX: [593] (2) 502-052 consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Flag: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; similar to the flag of Colombia that is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms
@Ecuador:Economy
Overview: Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. Growth has been uneven in recent years because of fluctuations in prices for Ecuador's primary exports - oil and bananas - as well as because of government policies designed to curb inflation. President Sixto DURAN-BALLEN launched a series of macroeconomic reforms when he came into office in August 1992 which included raising domestic fuel prices and utility rates, eliminating most subsidies, and bringing the government budget into balance. These measures helped to reduce inflation from 55% in 1992 to 25% in 1994. DURAN-BALLEN has a much more favorable attitude toward foreign investment than his predecessor and has supported several laws designed to encourage foreign investment. Ecuador has implemented free or complementary trade agreements with Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela, as well as applied for World Trade Organization membership. Ecuador signed a standby agreement with the IMF and rescheduled its $7.6 billion commercial debt in 1994 thereby regaining access to multilateral lending. Growth in 1994 speeded up to 3.9%, based on increased exports of bananas and non-traditional products, while international reserves increased to a record $1.6 billion.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $41.1 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 3.9% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $3,840 (1994 est.)