Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Moving to Ecuador is attractive primarily for the mild climate, the reasonable cost of living, and landscapes that go from the Andes to the Amazon in a few hours by car. Yet, for an active expatriate, the real question is not just where to live, but how to build a solid professional network in this country. Without contacts, opportunities remain invisible, local codes stay obscure, and integration can quickly turn into isolation.
In Ecuador, professional success relies more on personal trust and relationships than on formal procedures. It is essential to develop a solid network, especially by integrating into the dynamic expat and professional communities of Quito, Guayaquil, or Cuenca, and by leveraging chambers of commerce. The business culture, which is highly relationship-based, evolves within a changing economy.
Understanding the playing field: economy, employment, and business culture
Arriving in Ecuador without understanding the economic and cultural context is a bit like walking into a meeting that has already started: everyone seems to understand each other, but you missed the beginning of the conversation.
The Ecuadorian economy still relies heavily on oil, which accounts for over 40% of exports and more than half of export revenues. This dependence makes the country sensitive to crude oil price shocks: the slowdown was already visible with GDP growth dropping to 0.3% one year when it had exceeded 3.5% the previous year. In this context, the state has sought to diversify by focusing on mining, infrastructure, renewable energy, education, and certain export sectors.
The labor market is evolving with the rise of telecommuting, the explosion of digital technology, the growth of freelancing and hybrid models. The government is adapting labor law to integrate gig-type benefits, remote work, and digital activities. At the same time, major cities like Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca are positioning themselves as strategic hubs in services, technology, education, and tourism.
The country also presents some very specific characteristics for a foreign professional.
A demanding legal and administrative environment
Employment relationships must be formalized through a written contract, detailing salary, hours, benefits, and contract termination conditions. The standard workweek is 40 hours, overtime is heavily compensated, and the system mandates 13th and 14th-month salaries, 15 days of paid leave, mandatory social security contributions (IESS), and a strict framework for dismissals, often with heavy severance in cases of unjustified termination.
Companies cannot exceed a quota of approximately 20% foreign workers in their workforce. For an expatriate, this means two things: obtaining a suitable work visa, and demonstrating added value that the local market does not easily provide (rare expertise, dual culture, international network).
Settling in Ecuador involves a specific tax system, including a VAT of around 12%, sometimes very high customs duties, and a 5% tax on foreign currency outflows. The legal system is reputed to be complex and slow. To overcome these challenges, it is highly recommended to be assisted by a good lawyer, often identified through your professional network.
Currency and infrastructure: an underrated asset for expatriates
Ecuador has adopted the US dollar as its official currency. For an international professional, this reduces exchange rate risk and facilitates exchanges with North American partners. Centavo coins circulate locally, but the bills are US dollars, which also simplifies price comparisons and international budget management.
Digital infrastructure in major cities is generally good. Providers like Telconet, CNT, Netlife, Claro, or Grupo TVCable offer fiber connections with speeds sufficient for video calls, remote work, and online activities. A national internet exchange point (NAP.EC) improves latency and connection stability. The cost of residential access ranges from about $20 to $50 per month for 10 to 30 Mbps.
For a freelancer, consultant, or remote employee, this opens the door to maintaining international activities while living in Quito, Guayaquil, or Cuenca.
A business culture based on relationships and hierarchy
The true key to a professional network in Ecuador, however, lies on the cultural level. Business operates largely on the basis of personal trust and long-term relationships. Hierarchy is clear, authority is highly respected, and decision-making is often concentrated at the top.
Meetings typically begin with informal exchanges (small talk) about family, hometown, or current events before getting to the main topic. Punctuality is highly appreciated from foreigners, though schedules may be more flexible locally. Business lunches, often long and formal, are a central element; they serve as much to assess personal compatibility as to discuss contractual aspects.
Titles carry weight: “Doctor,” “Ingeniero,” “Economista” are readily used before the surname. Communication is often indirect; conflict or a straight “no” is avoided. Reading between the lines, observing non-verbal cues, being patient, and avoiding pressure tactics are essential.
In this context, an expatriate who arrives with a purely transactional mindset cuts themselves off from the market. Conversely, integrating these codes makes every encounter potentially decisive.
Key places to connect: cities, sectors, and organizations
Building a network does not happen in the abstract, but in specific places, with well-identified contacts.
Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca: the three gravitational centers
Quito, the political and administrative capital, mixes institutions, universities, NGOs, service companies, international organizations, and a growing tech ecosystem. Tech events (GDG hackathons, AWS Community Days, developer meetups), trade shows (Digital Fest, sector events), and expat communities are very active there. For a profile oriented towards institutions, consulting, education, or technology, it is the first gateway.
Guayaquil is the economic capital: main port, commercial center, heart of many logistics and financial chains. The Guayaquil Chamber of Commerce, over 130 years old, plays a pivotal role. For import-export, logistics, finance, agribusiness, as well as marketing or advertising, it is the natural terrain.
Cuenca, Ecuador, has become a sought-after destination for its exceptional quality of life and professional opportunities.
Attracts a large number of North American and European retirees and teleworkers, as well as creative and tech profiles.
The cost of living is particularly affordable and the quality of life is high.
Coworking initiatives, professional clubs, and binational associations are multiplying.
It’s an excellent place to test an independent activity or a hybrid work model.
Promising sectors where networking counts double
Certain fields concentrate opportunities for both foreigners and locals, provided you enter them with the right contacts.
| Key sector | Types of opportunities | Why networking is central |
|---|---|---|
| Education | English teaching, continuing education, e-learning, university cooperation | Access to private schools, universities, scholarship programs through recommendations |
| Mining | Environment, engineering, safety, specialized services | Projects led by large companies and the state, strong importance of local intermediaries |
| Infrastructure | Roads, ports, housing, PPPs | Public tenders (SERCOP), need for reliable local partners |
| Renewables & environment | Hydroelectricity, wind energy, water management, reforestation | Strong weight of university networks, NGOs, institutions |
| Tourism & hospitality | Eco-lodges, specialized agencies, high-end services | Many unadvertised positions, recruitment by word of mouth |
| Tech & digital services | Dev, data, digital marketing, cybersecurity | Recruitments via meetups, recommendations, online communities |
For an expatriate, it is often more relevant to target one of these sectors, then map the players: companies, professional associations, chambers of commerce, universities, online groups. The network then becomes a tool for sector penetration, not just social integration.
Chambers of commerce and employer organizations: structural hubs
The Ecuadorian and binational chambers of commerce are essential crossroads for seriously connecting with the economic fabric.
The Guayaquil Chamber of Commerce has contributed to economic and social development for over 130 years.
In Quito, the Quito Chamber of Commerce (CCQ) is one of the most influential voices of the private sector. It engages in advocacy, arbitration, training, economic environment analysis, and defending business interests.
Other organizations complete this landscape: Comité Empresarial Ecuatoriano (platform of the main employer associations), Exporters Federation (FEDEXPOR) specialized in supporting export-oriented companies, binational chambers (Canada-Ecuador, UK-Ecuador, etc.) focused on bilateral business flows.
Here is an overview of the typical services offered to members:
| Type of service | Practical use for an expatriate |
|---|---|
| Legal, tax, and customs advice | Quickly understand the rules, avoid costly mistakes, structure your activity |
| Foreign trade & export | Identify distributors, importers, target markets, international trade shows |
| Arbitration centers | Manage commercial disputes without getting lost in ordinary courts |
| Training & continuing education | Get up to speed on regulations, market, local management |
| Events & trade missions | Meet clients, partners, suppliers in a short time |
| Representation & advocacy | Monitor regulatory changes impacting your sector |
For an expatriate entrepreneur or senior executive, joining a chamber of commerce in the first few months is often one of the best investments to accelerate professional integration.
Building your local network: on-the-ground strategies
Ecuador is a country where people prefer to “do business with people” rather than with abstract entities. This simple principle dictates a good part of effective networking strategies.
Master (or really work on) your Spanish
Business is done in Spanish. English is present in large companies, some academic circles, and among urban elites, but relying solely on English severely limits accessible circles. Conversely, even imperfect but sincerely worked-on Spanish opens doors and generates goodwill.
Several local resources can help an expatriate progress quickly while creating useful connections:
– Language immersion programs with host families, intensive courses aligned with A1–C2 levels, cultural outings, excursions to the country’s four regions.
– Language exchange platforms like Tandem, where thousands of Ecuadorian users seek partners to practice English, French, German, or Portuguese. These exchanges are often motivated by professional projects (study abroad, international career, business creation), which can lead to interesting contacts.
– Hybrid programs like SPE LANEX, initiated by professional organizations (here, the Society of Petroleum Engineers) that pair students and young professionals from different countries for eight weeks of weekly virtual meetings. Ideal for entering a sector network while working on the language.
In practice, each class, each Tandem conversation, each outing with a host family becomes a mini-networking event, provided you take the time to exchange cards, LinkedIn profiles, and follow-up messages.
Adopting the codes of Ecuadorian networking
Broadly speaking, the universal principles of networking apply: clarify your goals (looking for clients, a job, partners, mentors), be active at events, exchange contact information, ensure follow-up. But a few local nuances make the difference.
First, time. Building a solid bond takes time, and you are expected to show consistency: come back to see people, give updates, offer help, not just ask for favors. Second, the personal dimension: talking about family, hobbies, hometown is a prerequisite. Appearing too eager to “get down to business” can be seen as cold or self-interested.
In meetings, it is respectful to greet and include the most senior people first. During a business lunch, it is better to wait for the host to introduce business topics rather than launching into a too-direct discussion yourself.
A solid network is thus built as much in meeting rooms as over a long almuerzo, a coffee in a shopping mall, or a Sunday asado at a contact who has become a friend.
Taking advantage of events, conferences, and trade fairs
Quito, Guayaquil, and to a lesser extent Cuenca host a multitude of events that are as many networking platforms: sector forums, textile exhibitions, sugar and pastry fairs, innovation conferences, tech community days, exporter meetings, etc.
These events have three major advantages for an expatriate:
1. They allow you to quickly understand who matters in a given sector. 2. They provide a natural pretext to start a conversation. 3. They often give access to decision-makers who are otherwise hard to reach.
The important thing is not so much to collect badges but to prepare for each event: identify a few strategic companies or speakers in advance, have a clear pitch in Spanish, and especially follow up with people met the next day (personalized message, request for a meeting, sharing an article or useful resource).
Digital platforms: extending your network online
Ecuador is extremely connected on social networks. For an expatriate, this digital layer extends and amplifies on-the-ground work.
LinkedIn, Facebook, InterNations, Meetup: the basic quartet
LinkedIn is the main channel for structured professional connections. Companies post job offers, recruiters hunt for profiles, executives share analyses and news. Following leaders in your sector, interacting with their posts, joining specialized groups (e.g., developer communities, marketers, exporters) allows you to become visible without being physically everywhere.
Facebook remains very powerful, with enormous penetration in Ecuador. You can find groups like “Expats in Ecuador“, “Expats in Cuenca“, “Americans in Quito“, as well as informal professional communities, thematic groups (tech, import-export, gastronomy), and event announcements.
Present in Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca, InterNations organizes monthly meetups, themed dinners, and activities by interest (business, gastronomy, sports). Membership is subject to selection, limiting dubious profiles and creating a secure environment for exchanges. For a newcomer, it is often the fastest way to meet international professionals who are already well established.
Meetup completes the picture with groups based on passions: tech, hiking, languages, entrepreneurship, photography, etc. In Quito and Cuenca, you can find developer circles, language clubs, entrepreneur communities… so many opportunities to meet locals and other expats around concrete interests.
Communication tools: WhatsApp as a backbone
In daily practice, a large part of networking in Ecuador goes through WhatsApp. Whether it’s confirming a meeting, sending a CV, emailing a proposal, or sharing an event invitation, the app is ubiquitous. Professional WhatsApp groups abound, often tied to events, associations, or online communities.
Completing the picture are Telegram (appreciated for large group management and security), Google Translate for filling vocabulary gaps, and language learning apps like Duolingo or Babbel, useful for combining linguistic progress with regular interactions.
Digital tools for language learning
Business and freelancing platforms
For entrepreneurs, SMEs, or freelancers looking for partners or clients beyond borders, platforms like ConnectAmericas, backed by the Inter-American Development Bank, or B2BeeMatch, focused on B2B matchmaking, serve as bridges between Latin American companies and international markets.
For freelancers, Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal and the like allow you to maintain global income sources while residing in Ecuador. The benefit, in terms of networking, is twofold: develop a portfolio of foreign clients while strengthening your local credibility (“I already work with clients from the US, Europe, etc.”).
Betting on the university and associative ecosystem
Ecuador has several renowned universities, very active in terms of alumni networks, international cooperation, and research projects.
Alumni, joint programs, and cooperation
The example of the USFQ Alumni network, linked to the University of San Francisco de Quito, is particularly telling: the graduate community includes all bachelor’s or master’s degree holders, offers networking events, continuing education, a job board, support for international masters and scholarships, a network of business partners offering discounts and benefits. The organization also awards prizes to its most outstanding alumni, creating visible role models.
In addition to research, specialized cooperation programs, such as the one coordinated by ESPOL and Flemish universities on water management and biodiscovery, have generated joint masters degrees, publications, and exchanges of teachers and students. For academic expatriates, consultants, or entrepreneurs in environmental sciences, these networks are privileged entry points.
Other universities – EPN, Universidad de Cuenca, Universidad Técnica del Norte, etc. – are also multiplying international projects. Getting involved as a lecturer, project partner, mentor, or member of an advisory committee allows you to naturally position yourself as a point of contact between your home country and Ecuador.
Skilled volunteering and field projects
Volunteering in Ecuador is not just an altruistic activity: if chosen well, it is also a fantastic tool for professional integration. Conservation NGOs in the Andes or the Amazon, social projects in Quito, Guayaquil, or Cuenca, educational or medical programs often need concrete skills: project management, communication, IT, fundraising, training, etc.
A marketing professional can structure the digital communication of a small foundation, an engineer can contribute to a water access project, and a doctor or nurse can get involved in community clinics. These assignments involve daily work with project coordinators, public partners, and sometimes corporate sponsors. It’s a credible opportunity to demonstrate your skills in a context where trust is built quickly.
Mentoring: an accelerator often underutilized by expatriates
Mentoring is one of the most powerful levers – and most neglected – for professional integration abroad. It is a structured relationship where an experienced professional shares knowledge, perspectives, and feedback with a more junior or newly arrived profile.
For an expatriate in Ecuador, we can distinguish two complementary types of mentors:
– a “local” mentor, Ecuadorian, rooted in the country’s professional fabric, who helps decode customs, networks, pitfalls to avoid;
– a mentor from the “home office” or of the same nationality, who supports the longer-term career trajectory and helps articulate the Ecuadorian experience with a global path.
For the mentee, mentoring offers personalized advice, expands the professional network through the mentor’s contacts, provides emotional support during doubts, and improves understanding of implicit corporate codes. For the organization, a well-designed program increases the success of international assignments, reduces the failure rate, and contributes to diversity and inclusion goals.
Setting up such a relationship can go through several channels: internal programs in large organizations (where mentoring initiatives for women or young talents already exist), alumni networks, binational chambers of commerce, international NGOs, or specialized platforms.
The important thing is to formalize a few simple rules: relationship objectives, frequency of exchanges (e.g., one session per month for six to eight months), confidentiality framework. From there, it is often the human quality of the relationship that does the rest.
Aligning with local business practices: meetings, lunches, gifts
Developing a network in Ecuador also means adopting routines in line with local expectations.
Formal meetings require punctuality, neat attire (suit and tie in the Sierra, lighter but always elegant dress on the coast), ideally bilingual business cards (Spanish/English), clear and concise presentation documents. Taking time to greet everyone, shake hands with direct eye contact, and start with a few polite phrases is essential.
Business lunches are copious and long (2h+), at upscale restaurants. They serve primarily to assess personal compatibility before getting into contractual details. The host should pay the bill. A female expatriate who invites can anticipate and settle discreetly with the restaurant to prevent a male guest from insisting on paying.
Business gifts remain discreet, offered rather at the end of negotiations than as a prerequisite: office items, books, products representative of your home country, nothing too ostentatious to avoid awkwardness. In the context of a home invitation, wine, chocolates, or pastries work perfectly.
Specific challenges and smart ways to overcome them
Moving to Ecuador to develop a professional network comes with a few recurring obstacles.
The language barrier, even when you have an operational level, can complicate complex negotiations or the fine reading of unspoken cues. Surrounding yourself with bilingual partners or colleagues, occasionally using interpreters at key moments, and continuing to invest in your Spanish is a crucial investment.
Administrative slowness and procedural complexity (company creation can take months, changing import rules, constraints on foreign investments) make it essential to rely on local experts: lawyers, tax specialists, customs agents. These professionals are often identified by recommendation, through chambers of commerce, DITs, or foreign colleagues already established, confirming that networking precedes the solution.
Finally, perceived corruption and the weight of certain “old boy networks” can be discouraging. Without ignoring these realities, more and more organizations – public and private – promote transparency and formalized procedures, notably through public procurement platforms. Clearly aligning with ethical practices, documenting interactions, and relying on recognized partners limits risks.
Giving yourself time and consistency
Building a solid professional network in Ecuador is neither instantaneous nor linear. The first months can feel frustrating: postponed meetings, slow responses, projects that seem to drag on. Yet perseverance pays off in a country where social capital, once established, proves very loyal.
The expatriate who succeeds over time is often the one who combines several layers:
For successful integration abroad, maintain an active presence in expat clubs and communities to break isolation and share best practices. Get involved with local players like universities, NGOs, and professional associations to gain visibility within the national fabric. Define a clear strategy on targeted sectors and regularly participate in their key events. Dedicate sustained effort to learning Spanish and understanding cultural codes. Finally, develop mentoring or sponsorship relationships, both local and international.
In Ecuador, a country officially dollarized but profoundly Andean in its relationship to time and relationships, a network is earned more than it is “built”. It is woven through conversations, lunches, projects carried out together, services rendered. For the expatriate who accepts this logic and commits fully, the country then offers a rare terrain: a human-scale ecosystem where you can still truly count on the strength of a well-prepared handshake.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
