The Diplomat
Seven out of every ten young Ecuadorians express their desire to work in Spanish companies because they consider them innovative, credible and generating trust, according to a report on ‘The Image of Spanish Companies and their Managers in Ecuador 2024’.
The report, presented in Quito, has been prepared by the MESIAS Observatory of International Image of the Spanish Company, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Cuenca, the University of Guayaquil and the UTE-SD University, associated with the MESIAS Chair of Image International of Spain in Ecuador.
The main conclusion of the study, carried out among Ecuadorian university students, is that they consider that Spanish companies are recognized, technologically advanced, well managed, with a quality image and a high reputation.
Thus, companies in our country obtain outstanding scores: 71.43 points out of 100 in recognition, 70.83 in technological advancement, 70.24 in management, 70.15 in image quality and 69.81 in reputation. In summary, young Ecuadorians perceive Spanish companies as respected and reliable and specifically, 70 percent of those surveyed consider them to be innovative, credible and generating trust.
The MESIAS report was presented for the first time in Ecuador on June 26, in a joint Ecuador-Spain event broadcast online. The inauguration in Ecuador was led by Rodobaldo Martines, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law, Administrative and Social Sciences of the UTE University, and in Spain, by Antonio Bonet Madurga, president of the Exporters and Investors Club of Spain. José Pancorbo, director of the MESIAS Chair in Ecuador and professor at the UTE University in Santo Domingo, also participated in the event.
José María Cubillo, general director of the MESIAS Institute, presented the results of the study, which indicate that Spanish companies contribute great value to Ecuadorian society. Students consider that these companies generate opportunities for economic development (74.26 points), make beneficial investments (73.28 points) and provide value in economic, social and cultural terms (71.00 points). Furthermore, respondents believe that they are good for the country (71.08 points) and contribute to development (69.77 points).
70% of those surveyed believe that Spanish companies in Ecuador create stable and quality employment. They also believe that these companies contribute to modernizing the country (71.12 points), improving the well-being of the population (66.72 points), and improving both infrastructure (67.47 points) and public services (60.43 points ). Young people highlight technology (73.04 points), innovation (74.59 points) and experience (72.63 points) as the main contributions of Spanish companies.
Likewise, they consider that Spanish companies introduce new management models (72.06 points) and forms of organization (72.14 points). Seven out of ten say that they would like to work in a Spanish company.
During the event, a round table titled “The challenges of the Spanish Company in Latin America: A perspective from Ecuador” was held, moderated by Angela Barba, professor at UTE University. Participating were Sonia Leyva, Research Coordinator of the Santo Domingo Campus of the UTE University, Fernando Pesantez, Director of the Master’s Degree in Marketing at the University of Cuenca and Mario E. Zambrano, Regional Director of PRONACA.
The closing of the event was carried out by Carlos Lizano, pro-rector of the Santo Domingo Campus of the UTE University in Ecuador, and Félix García-Giralda, president of ICEX Alumni in Spain.
