As I mentioned in my opening remarks, a comprehensive, modern trade deal with a country such as Canada is extremely important for Ecuador. That's what I'm hearing from the authorities. That's what I've heard from the president, the foreign minister and the trade minister. They see this as entering the big leagues, in a sense. Yes, they have a trade deal with the EU, but they're very much looking forward to a trade deal with Canada, one that will have modern chapters on areas such as indigenous issues, women and the environment.
Being able to advance this deal early in the current administration is also, for them, a message that Ecuador is moving ahead, opening up and open for business, including Canadian business. I think this helps position Canada—because of this goodwill—for new opportunities in Ecuador. I mentioned that there are, for example, opportunities in infrastructure. Everyone talks about the mining sector, but there are many opportunities beyond this. Those are on the investment side.
On the trade and export side, if the economy grows and diversifies here—which is very much the objective of the government and many members of the national assembly—there could be opportunities in machinery exports, for example, as well as to increase the existing products they export. They're also very interested in seeing Ecuadorean products in Canadian stores, as some of the previous witnesses have testified.
I think this will help position Canada as a friend of Ecuador and help achieve influence in other areas as well.