Since ancient times, human societies learned to manually
produce goods that served them to satisfy their needs. Wood,
Small businesses offer many jobs to the Ecuadorian
population, although theirproduction and income are lower
than those of large companies. The craft activity
isconcentrated in the areas of textiles and clothing, food,
footwear, wooden furniture,metal products, goldsmithing and
carving.Small enterprises or microenterprises are part of
family businesses, with a highparticipation of women, and
complement the family income that comes from othersectors,
such as industry. Small family enterprises are located, above
all, incommerce and services. They are the result of the effort
of people who areunderemployed and looking for a job. The
formal economic activity every time offersfewer jobs due to
the use of labor-saving technologies.
clay, metals were used to produce household decoration
artifacts. This activity was developed throughout History and
remains to this day as crafts, whose importance is great in
AN OLD TRADITION
the country. When the societies grew, the establishments
were also expanded and they were called manufactures. A
little more than two centuries ago the industry developed in
the world, which is dedicated to mass production of goods for
mass consumption. In Ecuador, small and medium industries
exist in all regions. Large industry, on the other hand, is
located in a few urban centers and rural sites.
The industry linked to fishing has developed rapidly in recent
years. It has important investments in the fleet fishery and the
network of refrigerators, as well as in factories for canning
SMALL INDUSTRY AND CRAFTS. FISHING INDUSTRY AND ARTISINAL FISHING and processing of fishmeal and fish oil. Their sales are made
MANUFACTURES AND INDUSTRIES mainly in the international market; however, the national
poultry industry requires a large amount of fishmeal. Artisanal
It is one of the oldest in the country. It is made up of large fishing, that is, fishing by small boats, absorbs the largest
spinning and weaving companies, and by numerous small amount of dedicated labor to this activity, but its contribution
clothing companies. The textile activity is concentrated, mainly, to the product is less than the industrial one. 3. MANUFA
textile industry in the provinces of Pichincha and Guayas. Both types of
companies supply the domestic market. The textiles even they
trade with the outside. During the first decade of this century,
they recovered from the shock of the 1999 crisis and the
commercial opening promoted by the neoliberal model, through a
strong internal productive reorganization.
It is made up of large companies assembling or assembling
Automotive industry automotive with parts that are brought from abroad, production of
bodies and small companies manufacturing auto parts or
accessories. They are located in the provinces of Pichincha and
Tungurahua.
It is another traditional industry of Ecuador. Three large mills
Sugar industry dominate the nationalmarket: San Carlos, Valdez and La
Troncal, located in the provinces of Guayas andCañar. During
the harvest, hundreds of peasants of the Sierra descend as
bracerosto get occupation in cutting the cane.
This is a monopolistic industrial sector, as few companies control
Wood Industry
most of the salesand asset or facilities. The activity of this sector
is reason for controversy, as itcauses the deforestation of the
Esmeralda and Amazonian forests.
It is the most important branch of activity in the manufacturing
industry. It is the one with the most workers. This, added to the
Food and beverage industry
refining of oil and fuel and to the extraction of crude oil and
natural gas, represents 67% of the total production of Ecuador.
These activities are concentrated in Guayas, Pichincha and
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY Sucumbíos.
This sector is characterized by the existence of numerous small
footwear industries,which offer many Job positions. In Pichincha,
28 small industries are located; inTungurahua, 25; in Guayas,
Footwear industry three; in Cotopaxi, three; and, one in Chimborazo. The12 major
footwear companies are concentrated, above all, in Pichincha (7)
This agro-industry is oriented towards theprovision of the national
market. At present, itis quite diversified: there are large
companies,small and medium. Its wide expansion forces itto
Dairy industry project itself to the market of neighboringcountries, especially to
Venezuela.
It is a sector that is very dependent on publicinvestment. It is
characterized by its dynamism,influenced by oil exports.
Housing and construction industry Requires a largesupply of migrant workers.
It is one of the traditional activities of the country. Today there are
many small craftbreweries, while Cervecería Nacional Company
Brewing industry belongs to a transnationalconglomerate.