The Ecuadorian flower industry will join the fourth phase of the national “Jóvenes en Acción” program through a new agreement between the government and the National Association of Flower Producers and Exporters of Ecuador (Expoflores). The memorandum of understanding was signed on Thursday, 29 October, by Minister of Labor and Human Development Diana Ramírez and Expoflores executive president Alejandro Martínez. The partnership aims to broaden training and work‑experience opportunities for young people, especially those from rural areas of the Sierra region. According to Expoflores, the collaboration will help Ecuadorian youth strengthen their skills and gain hands‑on experience in one of the country’s key economic sectors. The inclusion of Expoflores expands private‑sector participation in the program, which seeks to connect young people with productive companies and organizations through learning spaces. The Ministry of Labor and Human Development reports that floriculture supports roughly 140,000 direct and indirect jobs and generated $1.045 million in exports during 2025. The agreement intends to link rural Sierra youth to the sector, offering capacity‑building and practical exposure to its processes. With this new memorandum, the government now has 12 agreements with private companies and organizations in the fourth phase of “Jóvenes en Acción.” Activities for the new stage are scheduled to begin on 4 November 2026. The Ministry’s objective is to expand practical training opportunities and help participants build stronger professional profiles before entering the labor market.
Article source: El Universo | Image credit: El Universo