Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno became the first national to receive an electronic passport as he inaugurated the service at an official ceremony at the Civil Registry in the capital Quito on Monday, accompanied by government officials.

"Ecuador must go hand in hand with global modernization, which requires nations to align themselves with global information systems, and we cannot be left behind," said Moreno.

The new electronic travel document "guarantees security and prevents forgery. In addition, they are of great help to immigration police," he said.