ECONOMY
AND RESOURCES
Natural
Resources.
The land here
is rich in
minerals,
including
important
deposits of
lead, silver,
zinc and even
uranium.
Gold mining
is also practised
in some of
the regions
rivers, particularly
in River Bolo,
but old-fashioned
practices
are still
employed.
The
rivers also
form part
of the area's
irrigation
system and
are used in
energy production,
particularly
rivers Paute,
Saucay and
Saymirin.
Marble
and clay.
In Ecuador,
it's traditional
to talk about
the famous
Marble from
Cuenca.
Marble and
clay are natural
resources
that have
been exploited
for years.
The province's
earth is made
up of fine
clay that
is perfect
for artistic
purposes.
There are
numerous pottery
workshops,
experienced
potters and
an important
ceramic industry
producing
an abundance
of quality
hand-made
ceramic products.
The
Industrial
Park.
The Industrial
Park was built
during the
1970s with
the support
of the Austro
Economic Reconversion
Centre [CREA]
creating a
site extending
70 hectares
which today
is occupied
by more than
60 factories
and provides
jobs to over
3000 employees.
Artisanship.
The Azuay
province is
an empire
of artisans.
The inhabitants
of this area
seem to have
an extraordinary
talent for
handicrafts
and are extremely
hardworking.
This artisan
tradition
includes everything
from weaving
straw hats
to crafting
fine jewellery,
which have
earned Azuay
the reputation
of producing
some of the
best handicrafts
in the country,
especially
in terms of
metal work.
There are
a host of
workshops
which make
lamps, bed
head boards
and cast-iron
goods, using
iron, bronze
and copper
as well as
a range of
artisan crafts.
Pottery is
the speciality
of the area,
which has
recently enjoyed
a new revival
thanks to
the creation
of the Paul
Rivet Foundation.
Carpentry
is also an
important
activity in
the area.
Due to the
reputation
that Azuay
enjoys with
regards to
artisanship
the OEA has
established
the Interamerican
Centre for
Popular Art
in Cuenca
[CIDAP].
Comunidad
de Chordeleg
Museum
The main attraction
of this museum
is the integrated
worskshops
where artisans
can work on
their products
and exchange
ideas and
information. These
workshops
provide assistance
to the communities
within its
area of influence.
This workshop-museum
not only exhibits
artistic pieces
but also acts
as an educational
centre aiming
to involve
the entire
community.
One of the
museum's goals
is that it
is run by
the community
itself, and
is completely
autonomous
in the commericalisation
of its products,
taking out
the middle
man, and doing
everything
in the interests
of the artisan
himself.
INDUSTRY
Benigno Malo
Valdiviezo,
lawyer and
respected
citizen within
the community,
basically
founded Cuenca's
textile industry
in the middle
of the 19th
century, earning
himself the
name as one
of the pioneers
of Azuayan
industry.
Seventy years
later an Italian
businessman,
Carlos Tosi,
created a
banister business,
which included
the fabrication
of ropes etc.
and later
the factory
Arte Practico.
The efforts
of the Tosi
family with
regards to
industrial
development
in the region
has been notable
and has provoked
other businessmen
to invest
in the Azuay
and Canar.
Car manufacturers
General, Ceramica
Andina, liquor
bottling plants,
paper factories,
food manufacturers
and upholsters
have consequently
been established
in the area.
BUSINESS
Many
of the industries
here, as well
as providing
for the internal
market, export
their goods
too.
Straw hats
and chichona
(a plant from
which quinine
is extracted)
which have
proved principle
sources of
exportation
from the region.
Other exported
products and
goods include
furniture,
knitted articles,
ceramic goods,
jewellery,
handicrafts
and tyres.
With regards
to banking,all
main banks
can be found
in Azuay,
including
its own Bank
of Azuay,
founded in
1913 wit branches
in other cities.
Other financial
institutions
are also found
here.
AGRICULTURE
There
are no huge
haciendas
with acres
of land in
Azuay as there
are in other
provinces
such as Chimborazo,
for example.
The soil here
is not as
fertile as
in other provinces
as there is
no volcanic
material in
the earth.
Despite this,
Azuayan agriculture
has been the
traditional
activity for
the economically
active population.
Last
Updated 25th
July 2006
(DLW)
