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{{Infobox bilateral relations|Ecuador–India|Ecuador|India}}

'''Ecuador–India relations''' are the international relations that exist between [[Ecuador]] and [[India]]. Ecuador has an embassy in [[New Delhi]]. India has an embassy in [[Quito]].

==History==
Ecuador and India established diplomatic relations in 1969.<ref name="MEA2016"/> Ecuador first opened its embassy in [[New Delhi]] in 1973, but closed it in 1977. The embassy operated again between 1984 and 1985, before opening again in February 2005, and a consulate general in [[Mumbai]] in 2013. The repeated opening and closure of the embassy was because of the expense incurred by Ecuador to maintain an embassy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ecuador looks to India for better trade and investments|url=http://thebluemoon2008.com/what-ambassdors-say/ecuador-looks-to-india-for-better-trade-and-investments/|website=thebluemoon2008.com|access-date=29 March 2017|archive-date=30 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330013202/http://thebluemoon2008.com/what-ambassdors-say/ecuador-looks-to-india-for-better-trade-and-investments/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 2012 |title=India - Ecuador Relations |url=http://icwa.in/pdfs/Equador_new.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912055329/http://icwa.in/pdfs/Equador_new.pdf |archive-date=12 September 2013 |access-date=29 March 2017 |website=[[Indian Council of World Affairs]]}}</ref> India's embassy in [[Quito]] opened in 2025.<ref name="MEA2016">{{cite web |date=December 2016 |title=Brief on India - Ecuador Bilateral Relations |url=https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/ECUADOR_Dec2016.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908215749/https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/ECUADOR_Dec2016.pdf |archive-date=8 September 2017 |access-date=29 March 2017 |website=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India |publisher=Embassy of India, Bogotá}}</ref>

The two countries signed an MoU on holding regular foreign consultations in 2000. The first Foreign Consultation was held in 2005, followed by 2008, 2011 and 2014. Several ministerial level visits between the two countries have taken place. Several Ecuadorean Foreign Ministers and other dignitaries have visited India. From India, the highest level visits to Ecuador have been at the level of minister of state.<ref name="MEA2016"/>

The two countries have signed several bilateral agreements on co-operation in the fields of education (2006), agriculture (2008), and economic co-operation (2013).<ref name="MEA2016"/> India and Ecuador signed a Protocol on Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) in October 2015 in New Delhi.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 October 2015 |title=Eye on stronger ties, Ecuador seals trade pact with India |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/eye-on-stronger-ties-ecuador-seals-trade-pact-with-india/articleshow/49340515.cms |access-date=29 March 2017 |newspaper=The Economic Times |agency=PTI}}</ref>

==Trade==
Bilateral trade between Ecuador and India rose from US$98.9 million in 2009 to $1.29 billion in 2014–15.<ref name = "Gateway House"/><ref name="MEA2016"/> Bilateral trade declined to $553.14 million in 2015–16.<ref name="MEA2016"/> India exported $415.45 million worth of goods to Ecuador, and imported $137.69 million in 2015–16.<ref name="MEA2016"/> The main commodities exported by Ecuador to India are mineral fuels/oils, wood and wood articles, cocoa and cocoa preparations, aluminum and related articles, machinery and mechanical appliances, lead, copper, zinc and articles thereof, and miscellaneous manufactured articles. The major commodities imported by Ecuador from India are mineral fuels/oils, iron and steel, pharmaceutical products, vehicles, organic chemicals, plastics and related articles, machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical machinery and equipment, rubber and articles.<ref name="MEA2016"/>

On 16 November 2008, the Foreign Minister of Ecuador [[Maria Isabel Salvador]] met her counterpart, [[Pranab Mukherjee]], and discussed co-operation in oil and defence. The new government in [[Ecuador]] reversed the earlier revenue-sharing arrangements with western oil companies and was keen to start a new partnership with state-owned [[ONGC]] Videsh.<ref name = "TheHindu1"/>

An MoU was signed between two state-owned oil companies ONGC Videsh and [[Petroecuador]], and another between the [[Confederation of Indian Industries]] (CII) and the Export and Investment Promotion Council of Ecuador (CORPEI) in 2006.<ref name="MEA2016"/>

==Defence==
Ecuador was the first country to purchase [[HAL Dhruv|Dhruv]] helicopters, of which one was for use by its president.<ref name = "TheHindu1">{{cite news|title=India to boost oil, defence ties with Ecuador|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/India-to-boost-oil-defence-ties-with-Ecuador/article15344639.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=18 November 2008|access-date=4 April 2017|language=en}}</ref> The [[Government of Ecuador]] signed an agreement with HAL to purchase 7 Dhruv helicopters at a total cost of $45.2 million in November 2008. [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited|HAL]] delivered the 7 helicopters to Ecuador between 2009 and 2012. On 11 October 2015, Ecuador stated that it was grounding the fleet, after four of the seven helicopter crashed in separate incidents. The Ecuador Government stated that two helicopters crashed due to pilot error, while the other two were the result of mechanical failures. The Government also accused HAL of failing to ship some spare parts for the helicopters. HAL defended its helicopters stating that over 200 Dhruv helicopters were in service with the Indian military and operating without incident. The company blamed Ecuador's operation of the helicopters for the crashes, and also added that the 24-month warranty period of after-sales service support for the helicopters had already expired.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ecuador grounds made-in-India Dhruv chopper, terminates contract|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/ecuador-grounds-made-in-india-dhruv-chopper-terminates-contract/story-f6vT6lwzTxliJUS4nM1SFL.html|website=hindustantimes.com|access-date=29 March 2017|language=en|date=16 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="Gateway House">{{cite web |last=Seshasayee |first=Hari |date=26 November 2015 |title=India-Ecuador: growing past defence |url=http://www.gatewayhouse.in/india-ecuador-growing-past-defence/ |access-date=29 March 2017 |website=Gateway House}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=India blames Ecuador for Dhruv losses {{!}} IHS Jane's 360|url=http://www.janes.com/article/66017/india-blames-ecuador-for-dhruv-losses|website=www.janes.com|access-date=29 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330001116/http://www.janes.com/article/66017/india-blames-ecuador-for-dhruv-losses|archive-date=30 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> HAL also offered to send a team to Ecuador to resolve any outstanding issues.<ref>{{cite web|title=HAL team to visit Ecuador to resolve Dhruv copter crisis|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/industry/hal-team-to-visit-ecuador-to-resolve-dhruv-copter-crisis/160355/|website=The Financial Express|access-date=29 March 2017|date=3 November 2015}}</ref> Ecuador put its three remaining helicopters up for sale in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Peri|first1=Dinakar|title=India eyes Dhruv's foreign market|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-eyes-dhruvs-foreign-market/article17668821.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=27 March 2017|access-date=29 March 2017|language=en}}</ref>

Ecuadorian Vice Chief, General [[Rodrigo Bohorquez]], attended [[Aero India]] in February 2007 and Brigadier General [[Raúl Banderas Dueñas]] attended the Defence Expo in February 2010. Ecuador and India signed an MoU on defence co-operation in 2011.<ref name="MEA2016"/>

The Government of Ecuador maintains a [[Defence Attaché]] in its embassy in New Delhi. The Defence Attaché at the Embassy of India in [[Santiago]], [[Chile]] is jointly accredited to Ecuador.<ref name="MEA2016"/>

==Cultural relations==
Ecuador and India signed an MoU on cultural co-operation in 2006, and a cultural exchange programme between the two countries was held from 2009 to 2011.<ref name="MEA2016"/>

As of December 2016, about 350 Indian nationals reside in Ecuador, the majority of whom are employed in the service sector and in small businesses.<ref name="MEA2016"/>

==Foreign aid==
India and Ecuador agreed to set up a Centre for Excellence in Information Technology in August 2009. The centre, located at Northern Technical University (UTN) in [[Ibarra, Ecuador|Ibarra]], was opened in 2015. India donated medicines worth $1 million in 2008 and 2010 at the request of Ecuador. India donated 15 tons of medicines to Ecuador in the aftermath of an earthquake on 16 April 2016.<ref name="MEA2016"/>

Citizens of Ecuador are eligible for scholarships under the [[Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme]] and the [[Indian Council for Cultural Relations]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bilateral Relations India-Ecuador|url=http://www.embajadaindia.org/en/bilateral-relations/india-ecuador-en|website=Embassy of India, Colombia-Ecuador|access-date=29 March 2017|language=en-gb|date=7 April 2016|archive-date=22 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922065924/http://www.embajadaindia.org/en/bilateral-relations/india-ecuador-en|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Foreign relations of Ecuador}}
{{Foreign relations of India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ecuador-India relations}}
[[Category:Bilateral relations of Ecuador|India]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of India]]

Ecuador–India relations - Revision history

WernerStoate3: creating initial entry basic info