Sustainability initiatives of BeForCC in Ecuador

BeForCC has taken her first steps in Ecuador. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Decentralized Autonomous Government of Ibarra (GADI) and BeForCC to establish a public-private company to manufacture, produce, assemble and sell bicycles in Ibarra. BeForCC embraces this collaboration, because the so-called “clean mobility” is one of the main focus areas for development in Ecuador.

In December 2012, PRO ECUADOR through its Commercial Office in Rotterdam, together with Dr. Miguel Calahorrano, Ambassador of Ecuador in The Netherlands and Ing. Jorge Martínez, Mayor of Ibarra and President of the Association of Ecuadorian Municipalities (AME), conducted a meeting of businessmen from Holland and Ecuador, to discuss Europe’s investment in mobility systems in the country. The aim of the meeting was to present to Ecuadorian municipalities, developed and implemented solutions from Dutch public and private institutions to strengthen local governments with quality services that substantially improve the life and growth of their populations.

In January 2013, BeForCC visited Ecuador in order to initiate the process of establishing a bicycle factory. In coordination with the City of Ibarra and PRO ECUADOR, they held a round of meetings with the participation of Ecuadorian authorities such as the Deputy Minister of Trade and Investment Ing. Francisco Rivadeneira, Minister of Production, Employment and Competitiveness (MCPEC) Econ. Santiago León.

The Dutch investors met with many different people in the cities of Quito and Ibarra. Their hospitality and dedication was very impressive and heartwarming, which strengthened the good relationships and was a great enabler for gathering important information to realize the dream: the creation of a bicycle factory in Ibarra with well-balanced objectives. From one side the business objectives: to establish a healthy and sustainable business with sufficient performance, and on the other hand the social objectives: the creation of a new industry around the theme of bicycles, covering the entire supply chain, creating opportunities for small businesses ranging from the manufacturing of parts and supplies to sales channel retailer businesses. This social perspective is complemented by several education initiatives for internal and external staff, from a technical as well as a commercial point of view, while also propagating knowledge and bicycle skills for everybody.

Yasuní-ITT
BeForCC also contributes to the project Yasuní-ITT in Ecuador. The Yasuní National Park of Ecuador is the most bio diverse park in the world and offers sanctuary for indigenous people. This vast green area also conceals the country’s largest oil reserves (846 million barrels) but the Ecuador government will refrain from exploiting the oil in the Yasuní National Park indefinitely. In exchange for the profit ($3.6 milliard) Ecuador is asking the international community to invest in sustainable projects, education, health, environmental protection, anti-deforestation and indigenous people. This initiative is revolutionary and leading us into a post-petroleum era.

For more information watch the movie of the Yasuní-ITT initiative.