The problematic oil industry has exposed Ecuador's need to develop its other industries -- agriculture, seafood production, tourism and its Silicon Valley component.
Silicon Valley? In Ecuador? What??
Perhaps you haven't heard about the Yachay Project: City of Knowledge -- which El Presidente hopes will some day be the crowning accomplishment of his administration. Inspired by California's Silicon Valley and North Carolina's Research Triangle, it could be Ecuador's most ambitious economic-development project to date.
It is a work in progress -- a campus devoted to technology and learning -- about two hours from Quito, 15 minutes from Ibarra and just outside the sleepy little agricultural town of Urcuqui (pronounced ur-KOOKY).
Here is the vision as described at the Q Wealth Report website, a paid site advising international retirees on wealth preservation and investment:
"The Yachay project is intended to create an entire city, dedicated to the long-term exploration of knowledge and technology, on a global scale.
"The vision is of an integrated city, which blends the best education environment, within a high-tech campus setting, along with the economic means of production to foster the development, implementation and exportation of the high-tech initiatives produced at Yachay. A symbiotic techno-sphere, if you will, aimed at educating, cultivating and manufacturing products for the technology era.
"It is a well-planned and well-conceived initiative....Expertise in many fields is required....The obvious sectors of education professionals and high-tech specialists are high on the list of required skill sets at Yachay." (qwealthreport.com)
For more information, google:
Yachay city of knowledge urcuqui ecuador
cccmedia in Quito