AJR74

A Joint Resolution designating August 10 of each year as Ecuador Day.

Whereas, The United States and Ecuador share a history of partnership and cooperation bonded by mutual interests in economic prosperity, democratic governance, regional security, and academic exchanges; and

Whereas, On August 10, 1809, Quito, the capital of Ecuador, declared independence from Spain after nearly 300 years of Spanish colonization, commencing the Ecuadorian War of Independence; and

Whereas, On May 24, 1822, the Ecuadorian War of Independence ended with the decisive Battle of Pichincha and assured the independence of Ecuador; and

Whereas, The United States recognized the independence of Ecuador on June 18, 1822 and recognized Ecuador as a separate state in 1832; and

Whereas, In 1839, the United States and Ecuador signed a treaty of peace, friendship, navigation, and commerce; and

Whereas, The United States sent its first resident diplomatic agent to Quito in 1848, marking the beginning of diplomatic relations between the two countries that continue today; and

Whereas, Today, the United States is Ecuador’s principal trading partner, with the United States exporting goods such as petroleum products, machinery, computers and electronic equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, and cereals and grains, and importing goods such as crude oil, shrimps and prawns, bananas and plantains, cocoa, and cut flowers; and

Whereas, Ecuador is one of the most environmentally diverse countries in the world, and has made notable contributions to the environmental sciences; and

Whereas, Ecuador is home to the Galapagos Islands, which hosts iconic species like giant-tortoises and blue-footed boobies; and

Whereas, Research conducted in Ecuador by renowned naturalists Alexander von Humboldt of Prussia and Charles Darwin of England aided in the establishment of basic theories of modern geography, ecology, and evolutionary biology; and

Whereas, Ecuador’s Mount Chimborazo is considered to be the closest point on Earth to outer space due to its locations on the Earth’s bulge at the equator; and

Whereas, In May 2024, Daniel Noboa, the President of the Republic of Ecuador, held an official gathering at New Jersey City University as part of his first official visit to the United States; and

Whereas, President Noboa witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between New Jersey City University and el Grupo Latinoamericano de Cónsules en New Jersey, an alliance comprising 17 Latin American consulates that collaborate in offering consular services, as well as providing resources on migratory, educational, and health issues; and

Whereas, New Jersey is home to the second-largest community of Ecuadorian immigrants in the United States with 237,532 residents, comprising almost three percent of the State’s population; and

Whereas, Essex County and Hudson County claim the second and third largest Ecuadorian immigrant population by county in the United States, respectively; and

Whereas, Ecuador has served as an important international partner for the United States, as well as New Jersey, by means of trade, as well as academic and cultural exchanges that must be recognized; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. August 10 of each year is designated as Ecuador Day to honor Ecuador’s independence and our nation’s strategic partnership and to celebrate the Ecuadorian community in this State.

2. The Governor is respectfully requested to issue an annual proclamation calling upon public officials, citizens of the State, and other interested groups to observe Ecuador Day with appropriate programs and activities.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This joint resolution designates August 10 of each year as Ecuador Day.

On May 24, 1822, after a 13-year war, Ecuador assured its independence from Spain with the decisive victory of the Battle of Pichincha. The United States recognized the independence of Ecuador on June 18, 1822 and recognized Ecuador as a separate state in 1832. The two countries began their diplomatic relationship in 1838 by signing a treaty of peace and the United States sent its first resident diplomatic agent to Quito in 1848. Today, the United States is one of Ecuador’s principal trading partners.

In May 2024, Daniel Noboa, the President of the Republic of Ecuador, held an official gathering at New Jersey City University as part of his first official visit to the United States. During his visit, President Noboa witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between New Jersey City University and el Grupo Latinoamericano de Cónsules en New Jersey.

Additionally, New Jersey is home to the second-largest community of Ecuadorian immigrants in the United States with 237,532 residents, comprising almost three percent of the State’s population. Essex County and Hudson County claim the second and third largest Ecuadorian immigrant population by county in the United States, respectively.

Ecuador is known as one of the most environmentally diverse countries in the world, and has made notable contributions to the environmental sciences, including research that has led to the establishment of basic theories of modern geography, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Overall, Ecuador has served as an important international partner for the United States, as well as New Jersey, by means of trade and academic and cultural exchanges.