A long-awaited trade deal between Ecuador and the European Union (EU) is expected to be signed in the coming days and drive an increase in banana exports to the region. 

The deal is due to be signed on Nov. 11 in Brussels but will not come into effect until next year.

Fellow Andean countries Colombia and Peru both signed the trade deal in 2012, after Ecuador dropped out of the talks in 2009.

Speaking to www.freshfruitportal.com at the inaugural Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference that took place last week, ProEcuador's European representative Juan Patricio Navarro said the deal would put the country on a level playing field with its two neighbors.

"In principle, what we gain with this agreement is the ability to compete under equal conditions with the same products from other exporting countries like Peru and Colombia," he said.

"Looking at bananas, for example, the volumes shipped to the market will increase by around 10%, and this increase, along with the tariff reduction that will benefit every single one of our growers, is going to give opportunities to both Ecuadorian exporters and European buyers."

He added ProEcuador was participating at the Amsterdam Produce Show in order to let Dutch buyers and marketers know about the new opportunities.

"As this agreement has been concluding over the last year and a half, we have seen a lack of interest from Dutch and European buyers in doing business with us, and it is obvious that this is because they could not plan their long-term contracts," he said.

"But with this agreement we hope to recuperate that interest, reconnect with the buyers and think about how we can continue expanding in this market - and not just Western Europe, but Eastern Europe as well."

Navarro said the deal would come into effect on Jan. 1, 2017 and would be a milestone in trade relations between Europe and Ecuador.

He added it was not just bananas that would benefit, but a range of exotic fruits like golden berries, dragon fruit, avocados, granadilla and papayas.

A representative of BanaBay - a leading producer and importer of Ecuadorian bananas - also believes exports could grow substantially next year.

"This will make us more competitive again, since we have had a barrier between Ecuador and Europe," director Mark O'Sullivan said.

"This agreement is very positive and will allow us to increase sales in the different countries in this continent. But we have to be attentive to what happens in the negotiations over the minimum sales price in Ecuador, which will be established in December, and in February 2017 when there will be presidential elections.

"I hope that we can grow between 20-25% in Ecuador next year based on this agreement."

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