At 15:00 on June 3, 2013 Ecuador local time, the subcontract signing ceremony for the steel penstock manufacturing of the Minas-San Francisco hydropower project was held in SWISS hotel conference center in the capital Quito. With Luis Ruales , deputy minister of the power sector and the representative of the Ecuadorian government witnessing, Harbin Electric International Co., Ltd (HEI) formally signed the Minas-San Francisco hydropower project’s subcontract with the Andes Iron & Steel Company (Ecuador). The General Manager of Andes Iron & Steel Company and the Vice President of HEI, Wang Shimin made speeches respectively.

There was no involvement of local mechanical equipment or metal structure manufacturing companies among the previous nine power generating projects which were completed by seven Chinese-funded companies in Ecuador. Thus, this signing of the Minas hydropower project penstock local subcontract by HEI. made it a major milestone in the progress of the Ecuadorian government’s second power development strategy. Therefore, after witnessing the signing by both parties, Luis extended thanks to HEI. on behalf of the government of Ecuador in his speech . He said: “The subcontracting of steel penstock manufacturing by HEI. demonstrates its sound qualities , demeanor and an excellent strategic vision of development to the Ecuadorian government and people as an open-minded international company. .”

Positive effects resulted from this subcontracted project. On the evening of June3rd, Ecuador’s mainstream media first reported the signing ceremony on the televised news, followed by other major newspapers, magazines and websites such as El COMERCIO, HOY, NOTICIA NACIONAL and LEDERES from June 4th. Meanwhile, Jorge Glas, vice president of Ecuador, along with Esteban Albornoz, minister of the power sector, and Santiago Arias, the general manager of Hubang Company as the owner of the Minas Project expressed sincere gratitude and congratulations to HEI. through post, and a good foundation was laid for HEI’s further expanding the Ecuadorian market and even the whole area of South America.

Coverage of the Event by El Comercio, Ecuador