By Giuliano Flores
Marcos: Engineer Guiliano, first of all, thank you for sitting down with HiExpat Magazine for this interview. You have worked in the public sector for many years and are currently the General Manager of the Manabí Public Road Company. In addition to this you are the Manager of Manabí Vial EP. Could you tell us a little more about your background and how you landed in your current role?
Guiliano: One of my first jobs in the public sector was with the SRI (Internal Revenue Services), in 2001, where I worked as a tax management analyst, auditor, and also headed the refund department of VAT from 2001-2014. In the same year that I left SRI, I went to work at CNT (National Telecommunications Corporation) as an administrative/financial head until 2017. In August of the same year I participated in the E-SATJE project, on the board of the judiciary. After this project I had the opportunity to be part of the CGE (State General Comptroller's Office) as an auditor. In 2018, I was administrative director of the CNEL (National Electricity Corporation), then zone 4 coordinator of the Civil Registry, as well as a ULEAM. After this I took a position as the financial administrative director of the CNEL (National Electricity Corporation) business unit in Santo Domingo. In 2020, I joined the Provincial Government of Manabí, as head of the Budget Sub-Directorate, an entity in which I also worked as an advisor.
At the end of 2020, I joined the company Manabí Produce EP, with the position of project manager and months later as financial administrative manager.
At the beginning of 2021 I was manager in charge of Manabí Produce EP, until I was presented with the proposal to be part of the company Manabí Vial EP, where I joined as a financial coordinator. Then I moved into the position of director of institutional services, and in August of the year in question I became manager of the company Manabí Vial EP.
The experience I obtained in public companies, as well as in control entities, has given me the managerial skills to comply with the regulations of public administration, with the aim of fulfilling the mission and vision of all companies that I have worked for, and the one I currently manage.
Marcos: For the last 15 years, Ecuador has been in the top 10 preferred places for North American retirees and investors. Various factors are considered when making this ranking such as the economy, the cost of living, the food quality, connectivity, and the quality of roads. According to the ranking from the World Economic Forum in 2019, Ecuador earned second place
for the best road infrastructure with a score of 5.1. Chile came in first place with just a slightly better score of 5.2. From your professional and personal perspective as an Ecuadorian, can you share with our readers how we have historically improved the road infrastructure of Ecuador
in the last 20 years?
Guiliano: Since 2007, Ecuador has shown a great change in the level of investment in road infrastructure, which has helped, or has been helping, to improve the country's economy. Having better roads allows producers and farmers greater success in accessing and placing their products on the market in a timely manner, and increases their market niches. Parallel to obtaining better roads, we also support the increase of both internal and external tourism, since in our country, and in particular in the province of Manabí, we have more than 18,940 km2 of beautiful and diverse touristic places. However, during the last 8 years there has been no major investment or maintenance in roads from the government.
Marcos: According to data from the Ministry of Public Works in 2017 Ecuador has built approximately 42,670 kilometers of road infrastructure. Of this infrastructure, around 36% of the state and provincial road network is paved. Specifically in Manabí, what roads does Manabí Vial have responsibility for and what are their future projections for the roads?
Guiliano: At the moment, the company Manabí Vial EP is in charge of the administration of certain highways as delegated through an agreement between the MTOP (Ministry of Transport and Public Works) and the GPM (Provincial Government of Manabí). This initial delegation includes the South Central Ring Road, and an exclusive delegation of 27 km from the Bellavista Bridge in the Portoviejo Canton, to the roundabout of the weaver in the Colorado Canton of Montecristi. Our main objective as a company in conjunction with the GPM (Provincial Government of Manabí) is to obtain the delegation of other road sections in the province. Additionally, we carry out road maintenance that includes major patching, minor patching, and cleaning of gutters and shoulders, among other items related to road construction and maintenance.
Marcos: Manabí has had some of the greatest development and economic growth in
Ecuador in recent years. This has encouraged many North American retirees to choose Manabí as their retirement destination. Manta, Portoviejo, Puerto Cayo, Bahía de Caráquez, San Vicente, Canoa…… What can you tell our readers about the management and maintenance of roads in the Province of Manabí?
Guiliano: Something important for investors or natives of our province to know is that we have a provincial administration concerned with the maintenance of both rural roads and those whose destinations lead to tourist places. Eco. Leonardo Orlando Arteaga, leader of these matters for the prefecture of Manabí, aims to increase production levels, tourism, and consequently the safety of those who make use of these routes.
Marcos: Due to the growth of the North American population in our country, tourists, and
international organizations many are seeking Ecuador as a destination to settle down in. Do you think we might see signage in English in Manabí anytime soon to accommodate English speaking foreigners?
Guiliano: Of course, regarding the projects of the delegated road, vertical signage is being incorporated in both Spanish and English precisely to meet the high demand of foreign tourists who visit our province and others who decide to settle here.