Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) announced on November 6 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ecuador’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MIT) to cooperate on a pre-feasibility study for upgrading the Quito–Guayaquil road.
The project covers a 324-kilometer mountainous section connecting Ecuador’s capital, Quito, with its largest port city, Guayaquil. Under the MOU, KEC will conduct technical feasibility and economic viability analyses of the route to lay the groundwork for full project implementation and identify the requirements for upgrading the corridor to highway standards.
KEC previously completed a successful pre-feasibility study for the Guayaquil–Cuenca road upgrade, earning technical recognition and trust from the Ecuadorian government. The new agreement builds on that momentum and is expected to promote the adoption of Korean road engineering and operational know-how across Latin America.
Through the study, KEC aims not only to shorten intercity travel times and improve traffic safety but also to transfer Korean road construction and management technologies that supported domestic industrialization to local partners.
A KEC official said the MOU was achieved with active support from KOTRA and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ecuador, adding that the Quito–Guayaquil project will serve as a steppingstone for expanding Korean firms’ participation in infrastructure projects throughout Latin America and creating more overseas opportunities for private companies.
