The Salvadoran Government, through the Central Reserve Bank (BCR), took another significant step towards the country’s digital transformation by launching the Certified Electronic Signature Service. BCR President Douglas Rodríguez announced that this service is part of the transformation outlined in the 2020-2030 strategy, which aims to integrate all stakeholders involved in the country’s development through innovation and the use of information technology.
The launch of the Certified Electronic Signature Service strengthens the government’s digital infrastructure, contributing to innovation and fostering citizen inclusion in accessing public services easily and quickly. Moreover, it provides businesses and the economy with additional tools.
Rodríguez emphasized that the cost of issuance for the Certified Electronic Signature will be $15, making it the most affordable service not only in El Salvador but also across the entire Central American region. Furthermore, the certificate will be valid for one year with an unlimited number of operations and will be available for both individuals and legal entities.
«We are committed to promoting the use, dissemination, and sustainable change in the digitalization of documents to eliminate bureaucracy in the country,» stated Rodríguez. He also highlighted that the BCR’s technological infrastructure adheres to the highest international cybersecurity standards and best practices, ensuring the utmost security and confidentiality for users.
The Certified Electronic Signature Service represents a transformative tool benefitting businesses, public institutions, and Salvadorans in general, modernizing Salvadoran society. The BCR’s technical team deserves recognition for developing the required technological infrastructure in just one year, whereas other countries have taken up to a decade for similar projects.
The advantages of the Certified Electronic Signature are numerous, including the elimination of geographic barriers, time and cost savings, and reduced paper usage. Most importantly, it ensures the confidentiality, identity, and acceptance of digital signatures, offering a legal certainty equivalent to hand-written signatures.
The validity of the Certified Electronic Signature extends to all documents in the country, including contracts, legal and administrative documents, declarations, invoices, solvency forms, personal transactions, and any other document requiring the service.
For user convenience, the service can be entirely contracted online. However, for those who prefer in-person processing, an office has been set up at the BCR premises.
Miguel Kattan, the Secretary of Commerce and Investments, lauded the new service and emphasized that it represents another step in positioning El Salvador as a model of modernization. He remarked that the country has undergone significant digital transformations under President Nayib Bukele’s government.
«The El Salvador of 2019 bears little resemblance to the El Salvador of 2023,» said Kattan, attributing this remarkable progress to the government’s digital initiatives.
The Certified Electronic Signature plays a vital role in a country’s digital services, serving as the culmination of a series of digital transformations implemented in El Salvador.
With this new service, El Salvador stands at the forefront of digital innovation, facilitating greater accessibility to public services and empowering businesses and individuals with efficient and secure electronic signatures. The Certified Electronic Signature is a testimony to the country’s commitment to embracing the digital age and providing cutting-edge solutions to its citizens.