On the morning of September 26, 2024, the Ortiz Business Group unveiled their latest project: Mall del Alto, a new shopping center currently under construction in Cuenca.

The mall will be located across from Mall del Río on a 16-hectare plot. Six hectares will be used for the mall's construction, while the remaining ten hectares will be dedicated to green spaces.

One of the standout features of Mall del Alto is its commitment to green energy. The mall will have 5,000 solar panels, along with a water treatment plant and a system to collect rainwater.

Commercial Spaces

Mall del Alto will feature 180 stores and around 100 kiosks spread across the five levels of the mall. The first two levels will house parking areas as well as various service-oriented commercial spaces.

It has been confirmed that Hipermercados Coral, a major retail chain, will open a store in the mall.

The grand opening is scheduled for October 2025, with commercial spaces expected to be handed over to tenants a month prior.

The legendary British musician, Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, better known as Sting, will bring his "Sting 3.0" tour to Cuenca in early 2025. Here’s everything you need to know about the concert date, ticket presale, and prices.

Concert Date

Sting will perform at Cuenca's Alejandro Serrano Aguilar Stadium on February 28, 2025. Joining him on stage will be Dominic Miller on guitar and Chris Maas on drums. The event is being organized by Feel The Club.

Ticket Presale and Purchase Details

- Fan Club Presale: September 24–25 for registered members on Sting’s official website.

- Banco del Austro Cardholders: September 26–29, available for those using Banco del Austro credit and debit cards.

- General Sale: Starts on September 30 for the public, with all payment methods accepted.

Where to Buy Tickets

Tickets can be purchased on the Feel The Tickets website or at the following locations:

- Quito: CCI, Scala, Condado Shopping

- Guayaquil: CC Alhambra

- Cuenca: Serrano Aguilar Stadium box office, Mall del Río, Milenium Plaza

Ticket Prices

Feel The Club has announced the following ticket prices (excluding VAT) for the concert in Cuenca:

- Roxanne Box: $185

- Gold Platinum: $155

- Golden: $125

- Box: $100

- Fan Zone: $85

- Grandstand: $60

- Preference: $45

- General: $35

Sting: A Music Legend

Sting began his career in 1976 as the bassist for The Police and later transitioned into a successful solo career in 1981. Now 72 years old, he has sold over 100 million records, won 17 Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and has been nominated for four Oscars. He also earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000.

The "Sting 3.0" tour will visit several other Latin American cities, including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Lima, Bogotá, Santiago de Chile, Mexico City, and Santo Domingo.

Don't miss this chance to see Sting live in Cuenca!

The Ecuadorian government has announced nationwide power outages during the nights of September 23, 24, 25, and 26, 2024, in response to what it calls the worst dry season the country has faced in the last 61 years.

In an official statement on the Presidency’s X (formerly Twitter) account, the government explained that the blackouts will occur from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The schedule was chosen to minimize disruption to productivity and workday activities.

President Daniel Noboa’s administration has also implemented remote work for public sector employees on Thursday and Friday, September 19, 20, 26, and 27.

The government is taking additional steps to address the crisis, including deploying a power-generating ship, setting up permanent land generators, creating regulations for natural gas imports, and improving abandoned energy infrastructure.

This decision comes less than 48 hours before the first blackout, set to begin on Wednesday, September 18, from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 19.

Source: Primicias.

Because of the scheduled national power outage at the same time,  Minister Mónica Palencia, the Interior Minister, announced that a curfew will be established from 10:00 PM on Wednesday, September 18, until 6:00 AM on Thursday, September 19.

Ecuador will experience a nationwide power outage from 10:00 PM on September 18 to 6:00 AM on September 19, 2024, due to maintenance on four key substations. This preventive measure aims to address the country's ongoing energy crisis, with work being done on primary equipment and transformers in locations such as Macas, Santa Elena, Milagro, and Molino.

The e-commerce platform Temu offers products at incredibly low prices, positioning itself as a strong competitor to Shein. Temu's orders are now directly available in Ecuador.

If you've been on social media recently, you've likely encountered ads for Temu, the Chinese e-commerce app that has become a major player in Latin America. Owned by PDD Holdings, which also owns Pinduoduo, Temu was launched in 2022 and has expanded across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, offering ultra-cheap products shipped from China.

Huge Discounts

Like its counterpart Pinduoduo in China, Temu attracts customers with deep discounts and a wide range of products. Upon first opening the app, users are offered a 90% discount on an item, with most products marked down by over 50%. It also offers "free gifts" and "giveaways." Categories include home goods, clothing, beauty, technology, and more.

Temu explains that its low prices come from eliminating middlemen and shipping directly from factories to consumers. With the rise of Chinese e-commerce, courier shipments to Ecuador under the '4x4' service (allowing packages under 4kg and $400) have increased significantly, with 2023 imports reaching $327.7 million.

How to Order from Temu in Ecuador

Ecuadorian customers can place orders on Temu, pay with international cards or PayPal, and receive their packages through courier services like Crossborderly and Skypostal. These logistics partners collaborate with local couriers such as Grupo Tramaco, Geomil, and Servientrega for final delivery.

Packages are typically collected from courier offices depending on your city, though Tramaco and Servientrega offer home delivery in certain cases. Delivery usually takes 20 to 30 days, though some delays have been reported. Customers generally do not incur additional shipping costs.

By the end of 2024, oil revenues will reach just over $1.3 billion, a sharp drop from $3.3 billion in 2014. This decline reflects a 2.5 times decrease in the sector’s contribution to public finances over the last decade, excluding brief periods of high prices like in 2022.

Production has also fallen, from 556,000 to 470,000 barrels per day, with each unproduced barrel representing lost revenue for public investments, forcing the state to rely more on debt. Taxes now provide the majority of government income, but they aren't enough to meet the country's needs.

As oil revenues shrink, Ecuador’s public debt has surged. The government increasingly relies on external borrowing to fund essential services and infrastructure, deepening the financial strain. This growing dependence on debt limits the country’s ability to invest in critical sectors, creating a vicious cycle of borrowing to cover gaps left by dwindling oil revenues.

Fernando Benalcázar, former Vice Minister of Mines, says Ecuador is facing its worst oil crisis in 50 years. Frequent leadership changes at Petroecuador, the state oil company, have led to inefficiencies, causing drops in production. For example, after Petroecuador took over Block 16, production fell from 15,000 to 10,000 barrels per day, costing the state millions.

The government has a plan to attract $10.5 billion in private investment, but Benalcázar emphasizes that the process must avoid past mistakes, like missed deadlines and ineffective bidding processes. Additionally, Ecuador’s closure of the ITT oil fields will cost over $1.5 billion and take up to 11 years for environmental recovery.

Source: La Hora.

The newspaper Expreso reports that Monetary and Regulatory Policy Board has issued a new resolution aimed at ensuring security in card transactions.

This is not a recommendation but a mandate. The Monetary and Regulatory Policy Board has introduced new guidelines to ensure transparency and security in transactions made with credit, debit, prepaid cards, and electronic wallets in Ecuadorian businesses.

The fifth general provision of the resolution, published on September 4, 2024, specifies that the point of sale (P.O.S.) must be positioned so that customers can clearly see the insertion, swiping, or tapping of their card during the payment process.

Additionally, the resolution states that the staff responsible for payments in commercial establishments must not handle the card or electronic wallet outside of the customer's line of sight at any time during the transaction. According to the Monetary and Regulatory Policy Board, this measure aims to prevent fraud and ensure the safety of users' financial information.

The president has decreed a new curfew for parts of Ecuador from 10 pm to 5 am. See the image for the cantons with a curfew.

On Wednesday, July 31, 2024, Quiport announced that the Mariscal Sucre Airport in Quito will resume its expansion to "improve the passenger experience and increase operational capacity."

In November 2019, the expansion of the passenger terminal began but was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Quiport, the investment amounts to USD 74.2 million. Of this amount, USD 19.1 million has already been spent, and USD 55.1 million is "yet to be executed."

There are four levels in the terminal expansion, which is an additional 25% and will be carried out between 2024 and 2025:

Level 0:

- Expansion of technical rooms and storage areas

Level 1:

- Expansion of the public arrivals hall

- Baggage claim area

- Increase in the capacity of international baggage carousels

- Reconfiguration of the Customs area

- Expansion of the duty-free store and baggage handling system

Level 2:

- Expansion of the public departures hall

- Passenger check-in area with 20 new counters and 12 self-check-in machines

- Pre-boarding lounge for 350 passengers

- New dining spaces

- Expansion of the international departure duty-free store

Level 3:

- Expansion of the international VIP lounge

Beginning this Thursday, August 1, 2024, the increased conservation fee for entry to the protected areas of the Galápagos will be applied, as mandated by the government of Daniel Noboa. National tourists will pay five times more, and foreign tourists, double.

With these new fees, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism aims to stabilize mass tourism to the islands and maintain the well-being of the ecosystems and inhabitants.

The increase was approved on February 24 by the Governing Council of the islands. The new fees are as follows:

Ecuadorian citizens and residents:

• Children under 2 years old: Free

• Children 2 to 11 years old: $15

• Persons 12 years or older: $30 (previously $6)

• Persons over 65 years old: $15

• Persons with disabilities holding a CONADISUS card: $15

Foreign citizens from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay:

• Children under 2 years old: Free

• Children 2 to 11 years old: $50

• Persons 12 years or older: $100

• Persons enrolled in Ecuadorian educational institutions: $50

Foreigners from all other countries:

• Children under 2 years old: Free

• Children 2 to 11 years old: $100

• Persons 12 years or older: $200 (previously $100)

• Persons enrolled in Ecuadorian educational institutions: $50

In 2023, the Galápagos National Park recorded a record 330,000 tourists in the archipelago, more than half of whom were foreigners.

You can also read about these new fees on this official page: Tributo de ingreso.

• The World Bank projects Ecuador's economy to grow by 0.7% in 2024, placing it at the bottom of the region.

• Ecuador's GDP is expected to grow by 0.7% in 2024, as per the World Bank's latest projections for Latin American countries, released on July 16, 2024.

• The World Bank forecasts that Ecuador will have the lowest economic growth in Latin America in 2024. However, the organization predicts a recovery in 2025, with a 2% increase in GDP.

• Just over a year ago, in June 2023, the World Bank estimated that Ecuador's economy would grow by 2.8%, making the current outlook more pessimistic.

• Despite this, in June 2024, the World Bank projected a 0.3% growth for the country, so the current projection of 0.7% is slightly better. Nevertheless, it will remain the country with the lowest growth in the region.

• After Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil are expected to have the lowest growth in South America, with 1.5% each. In the Caribbean, Haiti has the lowest projection at 1.3%, also below Ecuador.

• The highest growth in Latin America and the Caribbean is projected for Guyana at 38.2% and the Dominican Republic at 5.1%.

• According to the latest update of the World Bank's Economic Outlook, the regional economy will grow by 2.3% in 2024 and 2.5% in 2025.

Source: Primicias.

The newspaper El Comercio asked Martín Domínguez J., a professor at the law school of the Universidad Internacional del Ecuador, whether a hospital can detain a patient until the hospital bill is paid.

This inquiry was prompted by the death of a newborn baby in a Cuenca hospital last week. The incident unfolded as follows: A woman gave birth via C-section in a private hospital in Cuenca, a procedure that typically costs around $3,000. Due to complications, the hospital bill rose to $8,300. Unable to pay, the mother decided to transfer the baby to the local IESS hospital for further treatment. However, the private hospital refused to release the baby because the bill had not been paid. Tragically, the baby died while still in the private hospital, which then refused to release the baby's body.

According to Professor Domínguez, the hospital violated the right to freedom enshrined in Article 66 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador. Clause 29 of this article states that individuals cannot be imprisoned for failing to pay financial obligations such as debts or taxes, with the exception of alimony:

(...) 29. Los derechos de libertad también incluyen: (...) c) Que ninguna persona pueda ser privada de su libertad por deudas, costas, multas, tributos, ni otras obligaciones, excepto el caso de pensiones alimenticias. (...)

Furthermore, the professor pointed out that the violation of the baby's rights is exacerbated by the fact that the baby belongs to a priority care group, as specified in Article 35 of the Constitution. This article mandates that seniors, children, adolescents, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, people deprived of liberty, and those suffering from catastrophic or highly complex illnesses are to receive priority and specialized care in both public and private sectors:

Art. 35.- Las personas adultas mayores, niñas, niños y adolescentes, mujeres embarazadas, personas con discapacidad, personas privadas de libertad y quienes adolezcan de enfermedades catastróficas o de alta complejidad, recibirán atención prioritaria y especializada en los ámbitos público y privado. (...)

Additionally, Professor Domínguez asserted that detaining a person in a hospital could be classified as the crime of kidnapping for ransom, as defined in Article 162 of the Comprehensive Organic Penal Code (COIP): 

Art. 161.- Secuestro.- La persona que prive de la libertad, retenga, oculte, arrebate o traslade a lugar distinto a una o más personas, en contra de su voluntad, será sancionada con pena privativa de libertad de cinco a siete años.

Art. 162.- Secuestro extorsivo.- Si la persona que ejecuta la conducta sancionada en el artículo 161 de este Código tiene como propósito cometer otra infracción u obtener de la o las víctimas o de terceras personas dinero, bienes, títulos, documentos, beneficios, acciones u omisiones que produzcan efectos jurídicos o que alteren de cualquier manera sus derechos a cambio de su libertad, será sancionada con pena privativa de libertad de diez a trece años. (...)

Conclusion

In Ecuador, you have the right to leave a hospital even if you haven't paid your bill. If a hospital refuses to let you go, call the police at 911 to secure your release. If you are detained, report the crime of kidnapping to the public prosecutor.

Seniors and people with disabilities qualify for (limited) VAT refunds.

According to Primicias, the Internal Revenue Service (SRI) has announced that these VAT refunds will only apply to purchases made at establishments authorized by the Internal Revenue Service (SRI). It will publish on its website a list of these authorized establishments. The SRI will only qualify establishments that are up to date with their VAT declarations and payments over the last 12 months.

The legal base for this new policy is the Reglamento General de Aplicación a la Ley Orgánica para el Fortalecimiento de las

Actividades Turísticas y Fomento del Empleo, which came into effect on July 15, 2024.

Note that the SRI is behind on returning VAT. According to the agency, it is now working on refunds for March, but there are also expats who say that they have not yet received any refunds this year.