The Ministry of Economy (Minec) has successfully digitized 96 out of 219 foreign trade procedures, reinforcing El Salvador’s position as the top-ranked country in Latin America for trade facilitation.
This initiative, driven by the Directorate of Trade Policy through the Trade Facilitation Subdirectorate, is part of the government’s strategy to modernize and streamline foreign trade operations. The procedures digitized so far belong to institutions that make up the National Trade Facilitation Committee, which consists of 17 public institutions and seven private-sector entities working together to enhance efficiency.
To assess progress, Minec has been monitoring efforts by 11 key institutions actively digitalizing their services. These actions align with the National Trade Facilitation Strategy 2023-2027, specifically its first pillar: “Streamline and Digitize Procedures for a Competitive Environment.” The goal is to achieve 100% digitalization by 2027, significantly reducing processing times and improving system efficiency.
“With the support of cooperating partners, we are committed to completing the digitalization process by 2027, ensuring faster, safer, and more efficient foreign trade operations,” the ministry stated.
This initiative allows users to submit requests, track progress in real time, and make payments remotely 24/7. Government institutions will also provide prompt responses, with processing times as short as one business day, depending on the procedure’s complexity.
“This effort reaffirms our commitment to modernizing foreign trade and improving the business climate in El Salvador,” Minec concluded.