Through the efforts of the Directorate of Cultural, Sports, and Gastronomic Promotion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in coordination with El Salvador’s Diplomatic Representation in Portugal, a donation of 630 books from the Government of Portugal has been made to the National Library of El Salvador (BINAES).

The collection includes works of Portuguese literature from various authors, most notably those of José Saramago, the 1998 Nobel Prize winner in Literature. Additionally, the donation features books on the history, art, and culture of Portugal, further enriching the library’s offerings.

The donation ceremony was led by Portugal’s Ambassador to Panama, concurrently accredited to El Salvador, Gonçalo Teles Gomes, who officially handed over the books to the Minister of Culture, Raúl Castillo. Cindy Mariella Portal, Vice Minister of Diaspora and Human Mobility, represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the event.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Gomes highlighted El Salvador’s cultural progress, stating, “This library and all the ongoing educational efforts will contribute to what is being developed in the country.” He also expressed that this exchange would strengthen the relationship between the two nations and boost tourism.

Minister Castillo thanked Portugal for this cultural contribution, while Vice Minister Portal expressed her gratitude for Portugal’s support in enriching BINAES’ bibliographic resources and promoting literature.