U.S. and El Salvador review trade with a focus on promoting the digital economy

The United States is El Salvador’s main trading partner, which in the first 8 months of 2023 alone bought goods for 1,644 million dollars and sold goods for 2,979 million dollars

Officials from the governments of the United States and El Salvador reviewed the trade relationship between both countries focused on promoting and boosting a digital economy, taking advantage of technology to contribute to inclusive growth.

The U.S. Undersecretary of International Trade, Marisa Lago, and the Salvadoran Minister of Economy, María Luisa Hayem, gave a joint statement on Friday at the Presidential House in San Salvador, after a private meeting in which they discussed various issues.

“It was a productive meeting with many commitments (…) El Salvador is a very important partner for the United States”, said Lago.

The U.S. official said that her visit is to “emphasize the commitment of the Department of Commerce and the entire U.S. Government” and noted that during her stay a workshop was held with technology experts from the government and the private sector.

She detailed that they discussed policy actions needed to “be able to navigate this digital landscape that changes every day.”

“I hope it will serve as the basis for many, many future engagements between our governments and the private sector. We intended to deepen digital policy issues to promote inclusive and greater economic growth,” she added.

Hayem, for his part, said that the Central American country seeks to “build an ecosystem, all the conditions required to advance in the dream of becoming a technological hub (center) of opportunities for our companies (…) that generates employment for our population and with it we can continue to improve the quality of life.”

“We are at a good time to consolidate this commitment to work together so that the products and services generated in El Salvador can increasingly reach the United States, but also so that El Salvador can become an investment hub for the United States,” she said.

The minister added that “this visit demonstrates the great importance of the economic development of El Salvador and the importance of the relationship between the United States and El Salvador”.

According to information from the US Embassy in El Salvador, the US official will travel tomorrow to San José, Costa Rica, to meet with senior officials of the Executive of that country, to “discuss ways in which the US government can strengthen collaboration in the sectors of the digital economy, cybersecurity and health technology”.

The United States is El Salvador’s main trading partner, which in the first 8 months of 2023 alone bought goods for 1,644 million dollars and sold goods for 2,979 million dollars.

At the end of October, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Brian Nichols, visited El Salvador and held meetings with different sectors of society and with President Nayib Bukele.

Source: El Diario de Hoy