Cooperation agreement signed with AESOFT

(Quito, September 9, 2009).- CAF signed a non-reimbursable cooperation agreement with the Ecuadorian Software Association (AESOFT) to promote exports of Ecuadorian software services by strengthening commercial relations between software development companies in the country and in Uruguay. It will also facilitate exchange of experiences between institutions in both countries related to technology development and innovation.

Participants at the signing were, for CAF, Hermann Krützfeldt, CAF director-representative in Ecuador; and Jairo Tiusabá, principal executive of the CAF Competitiveness Support Program (PAC). For AESOFT Ernesto Kruger, president, and the executive director Santiago Martínez were present.

The CAF director emphasized the importance of "continuing to build up the software industry as cross-cutting factor in the competitiveness of all productive sectors, and suporting strategic allies such as AESOFT with which CAF closely collaborates.

The initiative is part of the Ecuadorian government's policy of stimulating 10 strategic sectors, under the Productive Strategies Program coordinated by the Ministry of Production, Competitiveness and Commercialization, which has defined software and technology as a strategic pillar of the economy.

CAF works constantly to strengthen the software sector in Ecuador, for which it has formed alliances with other institutions such as the Ministry of Industries and Productivity, with the aim of improving levels of productivity and competitiveness through projects to implement international quality standards. Companies will then be able them to access certification which will facilitate export of their products.

The Ecuadorian Software Association, AESOFT, is a private non-profit sectoral organization set up May 1995 in Quito, Ecuador. Its objective is to bring together companies in the information technology and communications (ITC) industry to foster the technological development of the country. The association groups software production, distribution and development companies as well as IT service companies. For more information visit: www.aesoft.com.ec