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IMF Highlights El Salvador’s Economic Progress Under President Nayib Bukele
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has highlighted El Salvador’s recent economic progress following discussions between IMF representative Dan Katz and President Nayib Bukele regarding the country’s ongoing financial program and the next stages of cooperation with the international organization.
According to Katz, the conversation focused on El Salvador’s economic performance and preparations for the upcoming IMF program reviews. The official expressed optimism about the progress achieved and indicated that technical coordination continues to move forward.
“We are making great progress toward finalizing the next IMF program reviews. I look forward to visiting San Salvador soon,” Katz said in a public statement.
The IMF representative emphasized that El Salvador has continued advancing toward the objectives established under its financial program, reflecting ongoing collaboration between the government and the international institution.
The announcement comes as El Salvador continues implementing economic policies aimed at strengthening fiscal stability, promoting investment, and supporting long-term economic growth. The upcoming IMF reviews are expected to assess the country’s progress in meeting the commitments outlined under the current program.
Katz’s remarks underscore the continued dialogue between the IMF and the Government of El Salvador as both sides work toward completing the next review process and advancing the country’s economic agenda.
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El Salvador Highlights Tourism Potential in Russia as Interest Grows in Its Safety and Travel Experiences
El Salvador has strengthened its international tourism promotion efforts by presenting the country’s cultural, historical, and natural attractions to Russian audiences during the Latin America and Caribbean Festival held at Moscow’s Hermitage Garden.
Organized by the Embassy of El Salvador to the Russian Federation, the presentation, titled “Getting to Know El Salvador”, introduced attendees to the country’s strategic location in Central America, its rich cultural heritage, and the transformations that have enhanced its appeal as an emerging international travel destination.
The presentation was delivered in Russian by Ambassador Yuri Santacruz, who highlighted El Salvador’s indigenous roots, archaeological treasures, national identity, and the country’s recent progress in public security, infrastructure, and tourism development. Visitors also learned about some of El Salvador’s most iconic attractions, including the Historic Center of San Salvador, Surf City, volcanoes, lakes, forests, and protected natural areas.
The ambassador also showcased Salvadoran traditions and cultural experiences, featuring the August Festivities, the Cofradía de las Flores in Las Palmas, Panchimalco, the colonial charm of Suchitoto, and the country’s renowned coffee and gastronomy.
The event attracted dozens of participants, who actively engaged throughout the presentation. Audience members showed particular interest in El Salvador’s improved security, traditional cuisine, tourism opportunities, educational scholarships for studying Spanish, trade relations with Russia, direct travel options, and the Salvadoran community living in the country.
As part of El Salvador’s broader strategy to diversify its tourism markets, attendees received postcards and promotional materials designed to encourage future visits. The initiative reflects the country’s ongoing efforts to expand its presence in Eastern Europe and position itself as a safe, culturally rich, and nature-focused destination for international travelers.
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Saudi Arabia and Ecuador Eye Salvadoran Coffee for New Trade Partnerships
El Salvador is advancing its international coffee strategy as representatives from Saudi Arabia and Ecuador visit the country to explore new commercial partnerships that could expand the global reach of Salvadoran coffee.
A key delegation from the Saudi Coffee Company, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), arrived in El Salvador to evaluate opportunities for importing Salvadoran coffee and incorporating it into its product portfolio. The visit reflects growing international demand for the country’s premium coffee and its recognized quality in specialty markets.
“Our main objective is to learn about Salvadoran coffee and explore opportunities to begin importing it and making it part of our product range,” said Abdulhadi Alrasheed, International Business Development Manager of the Saudi Coffee Company. He noted that Salvadoran coffee enjoys an excellent reputation and expressed interest in introducing it to consumers across the region.
The Saudi delegation’s visit was coordinated through the efforts of the Embassy of El Salvador in Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the Salvadoran Coffee Institute (ISC). During their stay, the visitors toured the institute, participated in professional coffee tastings, and visited coffee farms to meet producers and learn more about the country’s cultivation and processing techniques.
At the same time, Juan Pablo Ortiz, representative of Ecuadorian company Coffee Relief, is exploring new partnerships aimed at strengthening coffee trade between Ecuador and El Salvador. The initiative includes evaluating opportunities to import Salvadoran coffee into Ecuador and expand value-added processing and exports to additional international markets.
These business missions, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Salvadoran Coffee Institute, underscore El Salvador’s efforts to diversify export destinations, strengthen diplomatic and commercial ties, and reinforce the country’s position as a producer of high-quality specialty coffee sought after in global markets.
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El Salvador Archeology Discovery: 850 B.C. Burial Site and Ancient Crops Found in Antiguo Cuscatlán.
Archaeologists in El Salvador have made a major historical breakthrough in Antiguo Cuscatlán, unearthing a well-preserved human burial estimated to date back to 850 B.C. The excavation, led by Yale doctoral candidate Carlos Flores Manzano alongside experts from the National Directorate of Cultural Heritage, recovered the ancient skeleton from Trench 1 at the Pasaje 4 archaeological site. The remains were buried face down in a prone position beneath dense layers of volcanic ash that sealed the valley’s ancient past nearly three millennia ago.
The rare site also revealed a small ceramic vessel of the Usulután type and two distinct petrified cassava cultivation tracks, offering an unprecedented glimpse into early Mesoamerican agriculture. One agricultural furrow was buried under material from the Plan de la Laguna crater eruption around 850 B.C., while a second remained preserved under ash from the massive Ilopango Caldera explosion centuries later. According to Ministry of Culture officials, “the remains were found in a prone position at 17 degrees east of north, and initial estimates suggest they date to 850 B.C.”
Researchers believe this discovery connects to decades of regional studies, including pioneer excavations in 1987 and groundbreaking work on the volcanic history of Plan de la Laguna in the late 1990s. The site suggests the surrounding area may hold a similar concentration of ancient remains to those found at Chalchuapa’s famous Structure 3-7. The newly recovered bones will soon undergo radiocarbon testing to confirm their exact age and genetic analysis to determine the individual’s sex and biological profile.
This extraordinary rescue underscores the profound relationship between ancient Mesoamerican populations and the catastrophic volcanic events that shaped their environment. By examining these bone remains alongside petrified crops, scientists hope to shed new light on how early communities in La Libertad Este adapted, farmed, and survived in the shadow of active volcanoes near modern-day San Salvador.
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El Salvador Advances Urban Transit Strategy with New Cable Car Feeder Lines in Soyapango.
Salvador’s Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) is moving forward with an ambitious urban mobility master plan by introducing two cable car (metrocable) lines in the densely populated district of Soyapango, San Salvador Este. Designed to serve as feeder routes, these lines will transport residents from high-density neighborhoods like Las Margaritas directly to major transit corridors, including Bulevar del Ejército and the Pan-American Highway, where a high-capacity mass transit system will eventually operate.
According to Public Works Minister Romeo Rodríguez, final design plans for the Soyapango cable cars are nearly complete as officials prepare to launch the official bidding process. “The idea is to move people from Soyapango, Las Margaritas, and surrounding sectors to key points that will eventually connect with the main line,” Rodríguez noted during a television interview. Based on technical studies from the Korean Agency KOICA, each cable car route will be capable of moving up to 3,500 passengers per hour, providing a essential solution for the area’s steep terrain and heavy traffic congestion.
The Soyapango initiative builds on momentum from the country’s flagship metrocable project connecting Mejicanos to Parque Cuscatlán. That $130 million project is already undergoing active construction, with 60% of the civil works completed on its support towers and foundational work underway for four primary stations. MOPT targets 2027 for the launch of operations on the Mejicanos line, establishing a modern template for aerial cable transit in the capital region.
Looking ahead, El Salvador plans to expand this aerial transit framework across additional mountainous sectors in the metropolitan territory. Future portfolio projects include proposed routes to El Boquerón and a scenic connection linking Los Planes de Renderos, Puerta del Diablo, and Panchimalco. By integrating localized metrocables with future primary mass transit networks, the Salvadoran government aims to modernize urban transport and significantly reduce daily commute times across the capital.
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El Salvador and Gibraltar Partner to Advance Global Digital Asset and Tokenization Regulation.
El Salvador has expanded its international regulatory reach after the National Digital Assets Commission (CNAD)signed a landmark memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC). The bilateral agreement establishes a formal framework for information sharing, regulatory cooperation, and joint supervision of cross-border financial technologies. According to CNAD President Juan Carlos Reyes, who met with Gibraltar’s Minister for Justice, Trade and Industry Nigel Feetham, digital assets lack geographical boundaries, making cross-border supervisory collaboration essential for modern markets.
The alliance highlights El Salvador’s evolving leadership in digital finance, transitioning from early cryptocurrency adoption to institutional-grade real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. Minister Feetham praised the vision and leadership driving El Salvador’s framework, emphasizing that constructive dialogues also focused on online gaming, digital assets, and prediction markets. Reyes noted that “Gibraltar is the leading online gaming and casino regulator globally,”emphasizing that institutional maturity in oversight is intentionally built through robust international standards.
This agreement marks the ninth bilateral MOU executed by CNAD, joining previous regulatory pacts with jurisdictions including Kazakhstan, Argentina, Colombia, and Uruguay. The cooperation comes as Gibraltar advances its own tokenization legislation inspired by El Salvador’s Digital Asset Issuance Law (LEAD). While El Salvador permits tokenizing debt, bonds, and equity directly, Gibraltar is opting for a structured approach focused on protected cell companies for experienced investor funds.
Reflecting on the industry’s rapid evolution, Reyes stressed that public perception has shifted dramatically over recent years. “A little over two years ago, we started from a point where crypto was seen as something for criminals,” Reyes stated, adding that “today we are driving the tokenization of real-world assets, and eventually every other financial instrument—that mindset shift is, in itself, the achievement.”
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El Salvador Targets 4.1 Million Visitors as European Media Crown It Latin America’s Next Hotspot.
El Salvador is rapidly transforming its international standing, positioning itself as a premier destination for global travelers and investors. European news outlet El Español recently dubbed the nation “the new Dubai of Latin America,”highlighting its aggressive expansion of transatlantic flight connections and a booming tourism sector projected to welcome over 4.1 million international visitors this year.
Click on image to read El Español’s Article: El Salvador, the new ‘Dubai’ of Latin America. A major catalyst behind this surge is the significant improvement in public safety alongside targeted infrastructure development. Once overlooked, the country now offers visitors safe access to world-class surf beaches, volcanic hiking trails, and rich cultural heritage. Government officials emphasize that enhanced security has unlocked key international markets, encouraging major carriers to expand direct flight options.
Airlines like Avianca and Iberojet are launching direct flights connecting Spain to El Salvador International Airport, joining long-standing operators like Iberia. Beyond serving as a primary vacation spot, the nation is actively positioning itself as a central transit hub for regional travelers. Reflecting on this momentum, Deputy Foreign Minister Adriana Mira stated that “more and more international media, like ‘El Español’, are highlighting El Salvador’s transformation, consolidating it as a world-class tourist destination.”
With transatlantic air routes growing and visitor arrivals hitting record numbers, El Salvador is demonstrating how infrastructure and security investments can redefine a country’s global footprint. By pairing strong safety credentials with expanded international connectivity, the nation continues to build its reputation as one of the Americas’ fastest-growing travel destinations.
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El Salvador Economy Surges 5.78%, Ranking Second in Central America.
El Salvador is undergoing a significant economic shift, outpacing most of its neighbors with a year-over-year growth rate of 5.78% as of April. According to the latest Monthly Indicator of Economic Activity (IMAE) released by the Executive Secretariat of the Central American Monetary Council (SECMCA), this expansion positions the nation as the second-fastest growing economy in Central America, trailing only Panama. In stark contrast, neighboring economies such as Costa Rica (1.66%), Honduras (1.02%), and Nicaragua (0.73%) registered much slower trajectories.
The main engine powering this momentum is a dramatic expansion in the construction sector, which surged 18.5% in the first four months of the year. This boom is complemented by steady gains in real estate activities (6.4%), as well as the commerce, transport, and hospitality sectors (4.7%). Together, these key drivers reflect rising investor confidence and a thriving tourism market that continue to reshape the country’s economic landscape.
Official quarterly data from the Central Reserve Bank (BCR) further underscores this robust trend, reporting a 4.8% year-over-year GDP growth in the first quarter of 2026. Gross Domestic Product reached $9,261.8 million, adding $604.7 million compared to the same period last year. Notably, this first-quarter performance is more than double the country’s 17-year historical average growth rate of 2.2%, highlighting a historic departure from past economic stagnation.
As Central America navigates varying economic pressures, El Salvador’s focused performance in infrastructure and commercial activity sets a strong benchmark for the region. With key industries continuing to post double-digit figures, the nation is solidifying its position as one of the most dynamic markets in the regional landscape.
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While Nicaragua Seeks to End Elections, El Salvador Moves Forward with Its Next Democratic Electoral Process
The United States has strongly criticized Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega following his announcement that elections in Nicaragua will be eliminated, a move that Secretary of State Marco Rubio said undermines the Nicaraguan people’s right to choose their leaders through democratic elections.
“The Nicaraguan people have the right to choose their own leaders through democratic elections,” Rubio stated, reaffirming the U.S. government’s position in defense of electoral participation.
The announcement has renewed international attention on democratic processes across Central America, where different countries continue to follow distinct political and constitutional paths.
In neighboring El Salvador, preparations are underway for the country’s next electoral cycle. Under the current legal and constitutional framework, President Nayib Bukele is expected to participate in the electoral process as the candidate of his political party, with voters ultimately deciding the outcome at the ballot box.
Bukele’s administration has drawn both domestic and international attention in recent years. Supporters highlight the government’s security and economic policies, while some international organizations and analysts have expressed concerns regarding democratic institutions and governance. The Salvadoran government has consistently defended the legitimacy of its electoral process, pointing to elections observed by international missions and the role of Salvadoran voters in determining the country’s political future.
Recent public opinion polling by Datapoll also indicates that President Nayib Bukele maintains a 94% approval rating among Salvadorans, while 96% of respondents expressed support in response to public support for his government decisions
The survey reflects the president’s continued domestic popularity as the country moves toward its next electoral process, in which Salvadoran voters will ultimately determine the nation’s leadership at the ballot box.The contrast between the developments in Nicaragua and the upcoming electoral process in El Salvador has become part of a broader regional discussion on democracy, constitutional systems, and the role of citizens in selecting their national leadership.
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International Media: El Salvador Aims to Become Latin America’s “Dubai” Through Tourism and Air Connectivity
International news outlet El Español has highlighted El Salvador’s growing ambition to position itself as the “Dubai of Latin America,” citing the country’s rapid transformation into a regional hub for tourism, investment, and air connectivity.
According to the publication, El Salvador is pursuing a strategy focused on expanding its appeal as a premier destination for beach and nature tourism, while simultaneously strengthening its transportation infrastructure to establish itself as a key aviation gateway in the region.
The report notes that the country has invested in enhancing its tourism offering, promoting internationally recognized destinations such as the Pacific coastline, surfing attractions, volcanoes, and natural reserves. At the same time, authorities continue to advance projects aimed at increasing the capacity and competitiveness of the country’s airport infrastructure to support rising passenger traffic and international connections.
The international outlet also points to El Salvador’s broader economic transformation, where improvements in public security, infrastructure, and investment policies have contributed to growing international interest from travelers, airlines, and businesses seeking new opportunities in Central America.
As global attention toward El Salvador continues to grow, the country’s strategy seeks to combine tourism development with stronger regional connectivity, positioning it as an emerging destination for international visitors and a strategic aviation hub in Latin America.
