Ecuador appoints new cacao ambassador to boost global exports

Ecuador is intensifying its international promotion of cacao and chocolate. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility has appointed businessman Jorge Ernesto Espinosa as the new Ambassador of Cacao and Chocolate of Ecuador. This designation aims to leverage his four decades of experience in gastronomy and tourism to expand the global presence of the country's emblematic products, which reached a record export value of USD 4.668 billion in 2025.

In parallel, efforts to strengthen the domestic production chain are underway. At the Chokao 2026 fair, Nestlé Ecuador highlighted the work of local producers through its ‘Plan Cacao’ initiative. The program currently supports over 7,500 farmers across 11 provinces, focusing on technical training and sustainable agricultural practices. Farmers participating in the program report an average yield of 1.3 tons per hectare, significantly higher than the national average of 0.8 tons per hectare.