The company cited figures from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, which highlighted the growth of Swiss investment in the Andean country.
In 2024, Swiss companies led the increase in foreign investment in Ecuador, according to figures from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which indicate that Swiss investment rose from US$ 1.9 million in the first quarter of the year to US$ 21.8 million in the second half of 2024.
These figures were cited by Roche Pharma, one of the companies of Swiss origin that have injected capital into Ecuador. Sebastián Palacios, director of Policy & Advocacy at Roche Pharma Ecuador, a company with 40 years in Ecuador, highlighted that the link between Switzerland and Ecuador not only translates into economic figures, but also into opportunities for transformation for society.
According to the Swiss company, over the last decade it has invested US$19.9 million in technological development, innovation, continuing medical education and clinical research in Ecuador.
In 2023 alone, Roche allocated US$ 7.9 million to diagnostic equipment, essential to improve access to detection and treatment in the country. This translated into a fiscal contribution of more than US$ 6 million in 2023, adding up to more than US$ 85 million in the last ten years.
The firm also highlighted the creation of 170 direct employees, 53% of whom are women, which actively contributes to strengthening gender equality in the pharmaceutical industry.
“At Roche, we believe that innovation is a catalyst for positive change. Our commitment is to continue promoting the development of the Ecuadorian health system so that more and more people have access to innovative therapies for a better quality of life,” said Palacios.
In addition, Roche has taken action to contribute to caring for the environment, such as an alliance with ReciVeci, with which it seeks to be a plastic-free office and increase its recycling rate to 80% by 2025.
In the logistics field, Roche's diagnostics division implemented reusable coolers in its cold chain, avoiding the emission of 13.79 tons of CO₂, equivalent to the consumption of 408 domestic gas cylinders.
The company also highlighted the environmental recognitions obtained, such as in April 2022 when it received the Green Initiative distinction, awarded by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition, for its good environmental practices.
In the social sphere, the company led eight projects through the Swiss Alliance Foundation, directly impacting 1,575 beneficiaries and indirectly impacting 5,512 people.
The firm noted that the increase in Swiss investment in Ecuador reflects a shared commitment to building a more equitable and sustainable future.
“Roche reaffirms its responsibility to provide safe and effective medicines that meet the needs of patients with various pathologies. In addition, its ongoing efforts to strengthen access to health in Ecuador ensure that patients can count on innovative treatments.”
