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Ecuador among the three countries that achived well-being between 2005-2007 and 2012-2014 Español

President Correa meets with Pope Francis to Discuss Details of Visit to Ecuador Español

Exotic Ecuador brings nature and flavor to Dubai Español

Ecuador among the three countries that achived well-being between 2005-2007 and 2012-2014

Quito,April 24 (Andes).-Among 125 countries surveyed, Ecuador is in the third position of the countries that showed "significant" progress in welfare based on global Gallup surveys of 2005-2007 and 2012-2014 as shown in the World Happiness Report 2015 released on Thursday.

The report published by the academic John Helliwell and Jeffrey Sachs (Columbia University) and Richard Layard (LSE) drew Switzerland (1), Iceland (2) and Denmark (3) as the happiest country in the world while Costa Rica (12), Mexico (14), Brazil (16) and Venezuela (23) occupy the top positions in the ranking of happiness' in Latin America.

Ecuador is ranked 48 in the ranking, above countries like Bolivia, Paraguay, Nicaragua and Peru, and others like Italy, Slovenia, Greece and Portugal, in a list of 158 nations.

Although Ecuador rose a point in the ranking published last year, the South American country ranks third among 125 countries that have increased their levels of happiness comparing data from periods 2005-2007 and 2012-2014.

The 'top 10' are: Nicaragua, Zimbabwe, Ecuador, Moldova, Sierra Leone, Paraguay, Liberia, Peru, Chile and Uzbekistan.

The World Happiness Report 2015 is the third annual report that aims to quantify and explain the well-being in 158 countries with the aim of influencing government policies worldwide.

Switzerland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Canada, Finland, Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand and Australia occupy the top 10 happiest countries. Other South American countries like Argentina and Uruguay occupy positions 30 and 32 respectively.

The variables used by the study to measure happiness are the per capita GDP, healthy life expectancy, having someone you trust, freedom to make vital decisions, lack of corruption and generosity.

Afghanistan and Syria, currently at war, joined Togo, Burundi, Benin, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Chad (eight sub-Saharan African countries) in the group of the 10 least happy countries.

Despite the conflict in Iraq, this nation is number 112, ahead of South Africa, India, Kenya and Bulgaria.

"This report shows how social welfare can be achieved," Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University in New York said.

"It's not just an economic issue, but also of justice, honesty, trust and good health," he added.

Meanwhile, Helliwell said: "Countries with a strong institutional and social capital not only support a better welfare, but are more resistant to economic and social crisis," he said.

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President Correa meets with Pope Francis to Discuss Details of Visit to Ecuador

The Vatican (Italy).- Around 12:00 o´clock in (Italy), President of the Republic, Rafael Correa, held a private audience with Pope Francis, where they concluded details on his Apostolic state visit to Ecuador between July 6th to 8th.

Among the delegation that accompanied the President, was the second vice president of the National Assembly, Marcela Aguinaga; Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño; Minister of Environment Lorena Tapia; legal secretary of the presidency of the Republic, Alexis Mera, Ecuador’s Ambassador in Italy, among others.

At this meeting, the Head of State gave the Pope a replica of the Virgin of Legarda, located in the city of Quito.

It is expected that Pope Francis visits the cities of Quito and Guayaquil, making Ecuador the first Spanish speaking country on his tour. This visit is part of the tour that includes Bolivia and Paraguay.

The program of Pope’s visit to Ecuador has not been released yet, but it is expected to be known in mid-May. The Pope’s visit to Ecuador will take place 30 years after the visit of John Paul II in 1985. According to the Vatican, population of baptized Catholics in the Americas, increased by 10.5% from 2005 to 2013. According to a survey conducted by Cedatos in November 2014, 68% of the population in Ecuador is Catholic./ VMT El Ciudadano

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‘Exotic Ecuador’ brings nature and flavor of the country

DUBAI:Seeking to expand the country’s high quality products to the food and beverage sector, PRO Ecuador, a trade and Investment promotion organisation, in association with SCAFA participated in a forum themed “Exotic Ecuador” in Dubai on Monday.

As part of the event, the Ecuadorian chefs showcased their talent by preparing varieties of dishes from exotic fruits in front of the huge audience gathered to taste and discover new flavours.

Attendees were presented with important information about Ecuador, its regions and main exportable products, its nutritional characteristics, benefits for the consumer among other important facts.

Among the speakers present at the event were Christian Merizalde, Deputy Head of Commercial Office of PRO Ecuador in Dubai; Chef Francisco Araya, Academic Director of School of Culinary and Fishing Arts (SCAFA); and Catalina Oñate, General Manager of CI World Food Trading.

Christian Merizalde said, “Due to high quality and significant benefits of Ecuadorian products and the increasing growing Food & Beverage sector in the UAE, we at PRO Ecuador are delighted to partner with prestigious institutions such as the School of Culinary and Fishing Arts (SCAFA) and to have the opportunity to present Ecuador’s diverse product offering to the F&B Industry.”

As an important part of the forum, CI World Food Trading, a UAE importer of Ecuadorian Products, provided SCAFA with exotic Ecuadorian fruits for the audience to taste and discover new flavours. Also, utilising various Ecuadorian fruits, the chefs of the school made delicious preparations for sampling that delighted the attendees.

“As chefs we are always looking to source the highest quality products to meet the demanding UAE gastronomical clientele,” said Chef Araya. “I believe that forums as “Exotic Ecuador” provide chefs with valuable knowledge about new and exotic products that will help boost our culinary preparations by presenting innovative tastes and that is what Ecuadorian products are bringing to the table.”

Ecuador currently offers non-traditional fruits such as golden berries, passion fruit “maracuya,” naranjilla “lulo,” Soursop “Guanabana,” Pitahaya (dragonfruit), among other fruits such as bananas, mango and pineapple.

The total value of Ecuador’s non-oil exports to the UAE reached 7,376 tonnes to the value of $9.2 million in 2014, showing an increase of 41% from 2013.

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Embassy of Ecuador 202 234 7200