The Ministry of Economy (Minec) has recently introduced the Expand Academy program, which seeks to train Salvadorans in skills demanded by the technology sector.
This initiative is being carried out with the support of Salesforce, a US-based software company specializing in cloud-based applications. Salesforce will provide insights into the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) ecosystem, as well as sales process configuration and implementation through Sales Cloud and a project based on its programs.
The software developed by this American company is one of the most widely used globally, enabling the efficient, rapid, and secure creation, execution, and management of various cloud-hosted applications.
María Luisa Hayem, the head of Minec, noted that this new project complements other government initiatives related to talent development. According to her, between 2020 and 2023, the administration of President Nayib Bukele, in collaboration with companies like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Meta, has provided training to over 23,000 young individuals in digital skills and English proficiency.
Furthermore, a network of 30 universities has been established, and the Technology Skills Council has been developed. Collaborations with over 10 prominent call centers in the country, united under the American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham), have resulted in initiatives such as “English to Connect.”
“We, at Minec, are committed to supporting our human talent by providing programs that empower them to enhance their skills, thereby creating more direct employment opportunities,” stated Hayem.
She also mentioned that these efforts are preparing the country for the influx of companies attracted to El Salvador by regulatory frameworks such as the Law for the Promotion of Innovation and Technological Manufacturing, which grants tax exemptions to tech companies for 15 years, and the Digital Asset Emission Law, enabling significant firms like Strike or Bitfinex to conduct operations with cryptocurrencies.