CAPIA Elects Mónica Ortega Pacheco as President for 2026-2029 Term
Leadership Transition
The Cámara de la Pequeña y Mediana Industria del Azuay (CAPIA) — the Azuay Small and Medium Industry Chamber — elected Mónica Ortega Pacheco as its new president for the 2026-2029 term, according to reporting by El Mercurio, the province's leading daily newspaper.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Organization | CAPIA (Cámara de la Pequeña y Mediana Industria del Azuay) |
| New president | Mónica Ortega Pacheco |
| Term | 2026-2029 (3 years) |
| Jurisdiction | Azuay province (capital: Cuenca) |
| Member count (est.) | ~300-400 SMI companies |
CAPIA is one of the most influential regional business associations in Ecuador's southern highlands, representing small and medium-sized industrial companies that form the backbone of Azuay's non-mineral economy.
Regional Economic Context
The leadership transition occurs at a moment of measurable regional economic outperformance. Azuay province reported 22%+ sales growth in Q1 2026, significantly outpacing the national recovery rate of approximately 3.5-4.0% GDP growth projected by the Central Bank.
| Azuay Economic Indicator | Q1 2026 |
|---|---|
| Sales growth (YoY) | 22%+ |
| Estimated provincial GDP share | ~6.5% of national |
| Provincial GDP (est.) | ~$7.5-8.0 billion |
| Industrial employment share | ~25% of provincial workforce |
| SMI share of industrial employment | ~60% |
Several factors have contributed to Azuay's recent outperformance:
- Post-crisis normalization: Recovery from 2024 security and energy disruptions
- Manufacturing diversification: Automotive parts (Continental Tire Andina), ceramics, food processing, dairy
- Remittance flows: Azuay is among Ecuador's top remittance-receiving provinces
- Construction activity: Sustained real estate investment in Cuenca
- Security premium: Provincial homicide count below 12 (2026 YTD); March 2026 violent deaths down 26% nationally
CAPIA — Role and Influence
CAPIA's mandate encompasses several functions critical to the regional business environment:
| Function | Detail |
|---|---|
| Business advocacy | Representation before provincial and national government |
| Sector coordination | Coordination across SMI sub-sectors (textiles, food, metals, ceramics, services) |
| Credit access | Partnerships with CFN, BanEcuador, and commercial banks for SMI lending |
| Training and capacity building | Technical training programs for member firms |
| Export promotion | Collaboration with ProEcuador on SMI export readiness |
| Regulatory feedback | Input on tax, labor, and sector-specific regulation |
CAPIA has historically been vocal on issues including: energy reliability (particularly during 2024 rationing), IVA policy, labor flexibility reforms, and infrastructure investment in the southern highlands.
SMI Sector — Azuay Profile
The small and medium industry sector in Azuay is diversified across multiple sub-sectors:
| Sub-sector | Estimated SMI Firms | Key Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Food and beverage | ~80-100 | Cuenca, Paute |
| Textiles and apparel | ~50-70 | Cuenca, Gualaceo |
| Metalworking and auto parts | ~40-60 | Cuenca industrial parks |
| Ceramics and construction materials | ~30-40 | Cuenca, Azogues corridor |
| Leather goods and footwear | ~25-35 | Gualaceo, Cuenca |
| Furniture and wood products | ~20-30 | Cuenca |
| Chemicals and plastics | ~15-25 | Cuenca |
| Services to industry | ~40-60 | Cuenca |
The metalworking cluster in Azuay supplies the automotive value chain — including Continental Tire Andina (the province's largest single industrial employer) and domestic assemblers — and has significant growth potential under the Noboa administration's industrial policy priorities.
Policy Priorities — Likely Agenda
Although the incoming presidency's specific priorities have not been formally announced, CAPIA's historical positions and current regional conditions suggest several likely focal areas:
- Energy security: Continued pressure on the national government for electricity reliability guarantees, particularly given Mazar/Paute hydroelectric risks
- Road concessions: Advocacy around the Cuenca-Molleturo-El Empalme and Cuenca-Girón-Pasaje highway concessions announced by President Noboa
- SMI financing: Expanding credit access through CFN and commercial bank partnerships
- Export readiness: Supporting SMI firms' entry into regional export markets
- Labor cost competitiveness: Positioning on utilidades, minimum wage, and social charge reforms
- Tax policy: IVA treatment, tax simplification for SMIs, regime reforms
What to Watch
- Inaugural priorities announcement — the new CAPIA presidency typically publishes a multi-year agenda within 60-90 days of taking office
- Q2 2026 Azuay sales data — whether the 22% Q1 growth rate sustains or moderates; will frame the economic context for CAPIA's advocacy
- Road concession tender timelines — CAPIA's positioning on the $50M+ Azuay highway concession package will be an early test of the new leadership's engagement
- Provincial-national coordination — relationship between CAPIA and the Noboa administration's Ministry of Production; coordination on PPP infrastructure and industrial policy
- SMI sector metrics — CAPIA typically publishes semiannual sector health indicators (employment, credit demand, capacity utilization) that provide a ground-level view of Azuay's industrial economy
- Regional chamber coordination — CAPIA's engagement with Cuenca Chamber of Commerce, Cámara de Industrias de Cuenca, and the national CAPEIPI federation
Source: El Mercurio
Source
El Mercurio