LatinNews Daily - 13 March 2025

*Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa has announced an economic reactivation plan aimed at revitalising the country’s economy. The plan includes a one-off payment of US$600 for agricultural producers affected by recent heavy rains; debt forgiveness of up to US$10,000 for people affected by natural disasters; a two-month extension to the Jóvenes en Acción youth employment scheme; a new employment programme for people over 30 years old, which aims to provide 120,000 jobs; the construction of new homes in areas impacted by natural disasters; increased public investment in security and healthcare; and increased provision of benefits paid for childcare, old age, to vulnerable women, and to entrepreneurs, among other groups. These measures, Noboa said, are part of “an ambitious plan to inject millions of dollars directly into Ecuadoreans’ pockets, beginning with those who have the least”. Economic stagnation poses one of the main threats to Noboa’s hopes of re-election in the 13 April presidential run-off against left-winger Luisa González, with the economy in recession.