Aiming to technological integration in production processes, El Salvador and South Korea are making notable progress in the «Smart Factories» project. Aimed at Salvadoran entrepreneurs, this initiative spans five years, with a vision to promote the infusion of technology into manufacturing processes.
A delegation of Korean experts in digital business transformation recently visited El Salvador, engaging with government representatives and local companies. This visit marked a pivotal moment in the implementation of the project titled «El Salvador: Advisory and Technological Solutions from Korea (TASK) for the Digital Services and Technology-Linked to Smart Factories Sector.»
Taking place last Saturday, the visit signifies advancement in the initiative slated for a five-year duration (2023-2027), backed by a $1.58 million investment from Korean cooperation. The project is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Economy (Minec), the Korean Institute for the Advancement of Technology (TASK-KIAT), representing the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Energy of South Korea, and executed by the Gyeongbuk Techno Park and the International Institute of Agribusiness Development of Korea (KADI).
Several other institutions, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Salvadoran Agency for International Cooperation (ESCO), and the International Society of Automation of El Salvador (ISA), are actively involved.
The overarching goal of the project is to foster technology integration, enhance efficiency and productivity, facilitate knowledge exchange and collaborative work, reduce costs, and create opportunities for innovation that contribute to leveraging both local and international environments.
María Luisa Hayem, Minister of Economy, expressed optimism about the project’s potential impact, stating, «We are advancing in the execution of the Smart Factories project with the support of the Republic of Korea. During this visit, Korean experts have collaborated with Salvadoran companies to guide them through their digital transformation.»
Notable beneficiaries of this collaboration include the Specialized School of IT Engineering (ITCA-FEPADE) and companies in the fields of food and beverages, manufacturing, chemistry and pharmacy, agriculture and hardware, plastic, and automation services.
Government Embraces Technology
President Nayib Bukele’s administration has placed the integration of new technologies at the forefront of its agenda. Minister Hayem reaffirmed this commitment at the EO Innovation-AI Summit, outlining the administration’s steps to promote digital transformation through tools like cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
«In a globalized world with high buyer demands, companies must innovate and adopt new technologies to remain competitive. The government will continue its efforts to digitize its services, promote the adoption of new technologies in productive sectors, and strengthen the innovative entrepreneurship ecosystem to accelerate economic growth and job creation in El Salvador,» she asserted.
As El Salvador and South Korea join forces in this ambitious venture, the «Smart Factories» project holds promise not only for advancing local industries but also for positioning the nation at the forefront of technological innovation on the global stage.