Juan José Gutiérrez, president of Corporación Multi Inversiones (CMI), has praised President Nayib Bukele’s leadership, stating that El Salvador has solved many of the problems that still hinder economic growth in Guatemala and Honduras.
During an international business meeting at the Presidential House, Gutiérrez, whose company owns well-known brands like Pollo Campero, expressed admiration for the transformation El Salvador has undergone in security and economic stability under Bukele’s administration.
«You have solved all the problems that afflict us and prevent us from producing in Guatemala and Honduras. We have witnessed the change, the transition, and the transformation that this country has undergone for the better,» he said.
Gutiérrez argued that having a businessman as head of state is the key to success in the region. He believes that economic growth depends on leadership that understands business and production, stating that traditional politics has failed Latin America.
«El Salvador is the way it is today because it is run by a businessman—someone who knows the value of money. Traditional politics is rotten; it won’t take us anywhere. Latin America needs leaders who come from business,» he emphasized.
He also compared Bukele’s leadership to that of Argentina’s President Javier Milei and former U.S. President Donald Trump, suggesting that such leadership is essential for national progress.
Investment Confidence in El Salvador
The Guatemalan businessman highlighted El Salvador’s improved security climate, which has made the country more attractive to foreign investors.
«This country is ready not only to receive new investments but to expand the ones already here,» Gutiérrez affirmed.
In the past 18 months, CMI has invested $130 million in El Salvador, with other major companies, including CBC, also showing interest in expanding operations in the country.
However, Gutiérrez expressed concerns about Guatemala and Honduras, stating that political instability and ideological struggles continue to slow their progress.
«Unfortunately, the left in our countries is working 24/7 on narratives to gain power, while the right is focused on working and producing,» he concluded.
With El Salvador emerging as a model for economic and security transformation, Bukele’s leadership is increasingly seen as an example for the region.