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From Classroom to Construction Site: Salvadoran Students Gain Opportunities Through Opamss Agreement.
The Metropolitan Area Planning Office of San Salvador (Opamss) has signed a cooperation agreement with 23 universities in El Salvador to link academia with the country’s booming construction sector. The pact, supported by AUPRIDES and CIESCE, seeks to create internships, research projects, and training programs that prepare students for real-world challenges.
Luis Rodríguez, executive director of Opamss, explained, “This agreement connects universities with the national economic dynamic, particularly in construction, urban planning, and territorial development. The main beneficiary will be the student.”
Construction in El Salvador has expanded by more than 25 percent in recent years, generating around 167,000 jobs. Recognizing this momentum, university leaders emphasized the opportunity to align education with industry needs. Roberto López of UNICAES noted, “Our students will gain first-hand experience in a key area for the future of cities.”
The agreement also includes applied research, technical studies, and certification programs. According to Rodríguez, the initiative brings together nearly 90 percent of the country’s higher education system, making it a historic step toward integrating knowledge with economic growth.
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H&M Opens Largest Store in Latin America with New Location in El Salvador.
El Salvador marked a historic milestone this weekend with the opening of the country’s first H&M store in Antiguo Cuscatlán, a project that underscores the nation’s growing appeal as an investment hub. The Swedish retail giant’s arrival was made possible through the government’s economic diplomacy efforts, led by President Nayib Bukele’s administration and the Embassy of El Salvador in Sweden.
The new store spans 3,500 square meters, making it the largest H&M in Latin America. Operated locally by the Hola Moda group, the store will generate 100 direct jobs and provide Salvadorans with access to a wide range of fashion, accessories, and home products at competitive prices.
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Adriana Mira highlighted the achievement, saying, “This accomplishment is part of our economic diplomacy strategy and marks an important step in the country’s plans to attract investment.”
Officials emphasized that the opening reflects growing global confidence in El Salvador’s security, economic reforms, and legal stability. The initiative also promotes the country’s role as a logistics hub in the region, while offering consumers sustainable, high-quality products aligned with international standards.
The inauguration was attended by Salvadoran Ambassador to Sweden Patricia Godínez, further reinforcing the diplomatic ties that helped make this investment a reality.
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European Parliamentarian Rides a Bus in El Salvador and Experiences Security Under Territorial Control Plan
Spanish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Alvise Pérez praised the security transformations led by President Nayib Bukele during an interview on Pulso Ciudadano this evening. Pérez emphasized that, after walking the streets and speaking directly with Salvadorans, he witnessed the country’s dramatic changes in public safety.
The European legislator invited his colleagues in Brussels to visit El Salvador and experience the nation’s reality firsthand. “Criticizing what we think or don’t think about El Salvador, according to the media, does not seem to me the way to carry out the work of political representation. I ask my European colleagues to examine the reality of this country,” Pérez stated.
During his visit, Pérez toured the Center for Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT), El Salvador’s maximum-security prison, where he expressed surprise at the high level of organization and control. “I found that the system of organization is such that it leaves no room for even an assault inside the prison. I’ve never seen that before, and I invite my European colleagues to come and see it,” he remarked.
Pérez also underscored President Bukele’s pragmatic approach to El Salvador’s challenges. “President Bukele understood that a Swiss legal framework cannot be applied to resolve the problems faced by El Salvador,” he explained. He further highlighted that regional cooperation could strengthen security and attract investment. “President Bukele has understood that a union of Latin American countries can generate balance, guaranteed security, and significant financing and investment capacity.”
With his remarks, Pérez called on European institutions to reconsider narratives shaped by external media and instead evaluate El Salvador’s progress based on direct observation of its security advances.
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With 50 New Bitcoins in 30 Days, El Salvador Rises to World’s Top Six Holders.
El Salvador has strengthened its position as a global leader in digital assets by adding 50 bitcoins to its reserves in the past month, pushing the country into the world’s top six holders of the cryptocurrency. The national reserve now totals 6,328 bitcoins, valued at more than $713 million at yesterday’s market price of over $112,000 per unit.
The accumulation follows the strategy of purchasing one bitcoin per day, a policy announced by President Nayib Bukele and tracked in real time by mempool.space, managed by the National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC). On September 7, during the fourth anniversary of the Bitcoin Law, the government marked the occasion with the symbolic purchase of 21 bitcoins. “Buying 21 bitcoins for Bitcoin Day,” President Bukele posted on social media, underscoring his long-term vision.
Since 2022, El Salvador has invested $300.5 million in bitcoin. According to data from DropsTab, unrealized gains now stand at $413.2 million. “El Salvador was the first country in the world to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, demonstrating once again that we are pioneers in this new era of bitcoin,” said Stacy Herbert, director of ONBTC. She added, “The president’s decision to accumulate one bitcoin per day reinforces the Bitcoin Country brand, diversifies our financial assets, and represents a long-term investment in the nation’s future.”
A recent report by investment firm Bitbo shows that El Salvador now ranks sixth globally in bitcoin holdings, behind only the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and Bhutan. This milestone highlights the country’s growing influence in digital finance.
Globally, bitcoin remains one of the most valuable assets, ranking eighth with a market capitalization of $2.24 trillion, ahead of technology giants such as Meta. For El Salvador, the consistent strategy of accumulation not only strengthens national reserves but also reinforces its role as a pioneer in the evolving landscape of financial sovereignty and disruptive technologies.
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El Salvador Strengthens Anti-Money Laundering and Counterterrorism Financing With New Training Program
The Attorney General’s Office of El Salvador (FGR), through its Financial Investigation Unit (UIF), has launched a new initiative to strengthen national and regional capacities in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.
The Training and Strengthening Program on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) was officially presented in coordination with the Supreme Court of Justice and the Superintendency of Commercial Obligations. The initiative will focus on the legal, real estate, and cooperative sectors, providing specialized tools to improve financial oversight and transparency.
The project is supported by technical assistance from Global Financial Integrity (GFI) and endorsed by the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). It seeks to promote transparency, financial integrity, and alignment with international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado emphasized the importance of strengthening prevention and detection mechanisms. “The effective prevention and detection of money laundering and counterterrorism financing are essential to protecting the integrity of the economy and strengthening the country’s security,” he stated.
Delgado also highlighted that illicit financial flows increasingly operate across borders using sophisticated methods and new technologies. He stressed the importance of public-private cooperation, noting that the program demonstrates how institutions and sectors can work together to close the door to financial crimes.
The launch event brought together key authorities, including Henry Alexander Mejía, President of the Supreme Court of Justice; Ana Virginia Samayoa, Assistant Prosecutor of the FIU; and Claudia Helms, Director of GFI.
With this initiative, El Salvador reaffirms its commitment to combating money laundering and terrorist financing while strengthening national institutions to safeguard economic stability and security.
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President Bukele Calls on Youth to Safeguard El Salvador’s Future and Education Reforms
President Nayib Bukele has called on the youth of El Salvador to embrace their role in protecting the country’s recent transformations and ensuring that it never returns to the instability of the past. His message, delivered in a video clip shared on his official X account and excerpted from his Independence Day address, emphasized both security and education as cornerstones of national progress.
“I want to speak to you, children and adolescents, to the generation that will have the enormous responsibility of ensuring that El Salvador continues to advance and never goes back again,” President Bukele said. “You are responsible for ensuring that El Salvador never returns to the past.”
The president highlighted ongoing efforts to improve education through the provision of computers, safe learning environments, and the renovation of schools. Earlier this year, the government launched the Two Schools a Day program, which focuses on the construction and rehabilitation of public schools nationwide.
“It’s your turn to learn, grow, and take advantage of the opportunities you have: computers, security to study, spaces to dream big, spaces that we are still recovering with the reconstruction of schools,” Bukele stated during civic events at the Presidential Palace attended by public school students.
The president also underscored the importance of values and personal responsibility. “Respect, strive, value your teachers, honor your parents, and be proud of this country, which belongs to you, because you are the ones who will take El Salvador much further than we can achieve,” he affirmed.
In line with these priorities, the new Minister of Education, Karla Trigueros, recently introduced measures to strengthen discipline and order among students, reinforcing the government’s commitment to shaping a generation prepared to lead El Salvador into a stable and prosperous future.
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El Salvador Assembly Approves Provisions to Expand Energy Access and Boost Investment
The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador has approved a decree establishing special and temporary provisions to support the Universal Energy Access Program, a government initiative designed to extend electricity coverage across underserved communities. The program aims to bring reliable energy to 8,756 families who currently lack access in their homes, while also ensuring supply to public schools and rural production projects.
The tax framework included in the decree encourages private investment in energy projects, with the goal of expanding access to electricity and stimulating social and economic development in high-poverty regions, including indigenous communities.
During the 76th plenary session, lawmakers also authorized the creation of special tax provisions for multi-client contracts between the Executive Hydroelectric Commission of the Lempa River (CEL) and both public and private entities, domestic and foreign. These agreements will enable scientific studies related to hydrocarbon exploration. Additionally, provisions were established for data license contracts between multi-client holders and data acquirers.
While the initiative received broad support, the VAMOS party withheld its vote. Party representative Claudia Ortiz acknowledged the transformative impact of electricity access, noting that it “radically changes the quality of life and the development perspective” for families. However, she argued that concerns remain regarding contractor selection rather than the decree itself.
The Universal Energy Access Program is part of El Salvador’s broader strategy to reduce inequality in basic services and drive progress in sustainable development. By prioritizing electricity access for rural and marginalized populations, the government aims to improve education, health, and productivity, while strengthening long-term energy security.
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President Trump Thanks El Salvador for Backing U.S. Fight Against Crime at UN Assembly.
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly thanked El Salvador for its support in the fight against criminal organizations during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly. He commended President Nayib Bukele’s administration for its decision to imprison dangerous gang members in the Center for Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT), a maximum-security prison designed to dismantle organized crime.
I want to thank El Salvador for the strong support of President Bukele’s government in our fight against crime, Trump stated, stressing that the coordinated actions have weakened transnational gangs that operate across borders. He emphasized that El Salvador’s policies are contributing not only to its own internal security but also to broader regional stability and U.S. security interests.
Trump’s recognition at such a high-profile forum underscores the international attention that El Salvador’s security strategy has attracted. The remarks highlighted the alignment between Washington and San Salvador in addressing gang violence, a problem that has long affected both nations.
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El Salvador’s Tourism Ratings Reveal Families as the Country’s Strongest Promoters.
Families traveling in El Salvador have become the group that rates the country’s tourist attractions most favorably online, according to the Central American Tourism Integration Secretariat (Sitca). Based on over 1,800 reviews gathered between January 2012 and June 2025, families gave El Salvador’s destinations an average score of 8.96 out of 10.
Santa Ana Cathedral. Sites reviewed include Santa Ana Cathedral, San Salvador’s Metropolitan Cathedral, La Laguna Botanical Garden, the Monument to the Divine Savior of the World, Multiplaza El Salvador, and the Museum of Art of El Salvador. Other highly rated locations were El Boquerón National Park, Plaza Futura, Plaza Libertad, and the Tazumal archaeological site.
Boqueron National Park, San Salvador Volcano. Travelers visiting with friends followed closely with a score of 8.77, while business groups rated their experiences at 8.70. Couples gave an average of 8.41, and solo travelers scored lowest at 8.34. The regional trend differs, with business travelers leading the rankings across Central America and the Dominican Republic, giving destinations 9.03 points. Friends ranked them at 9, couples at 8.91, families at 8.90, and solo travelers at 8.88.
Commenting on the findings, SoulData director Federico Esper noted on September 18 that those who comment the most are not always the ones who leave the highest ratings. In terms of online engagement, couples contributed the largest share of reviews at 42.4% of 222,490 total comments, followed by families with more than 61,000, friends with over 45,000, solo travelers with more than 15,000, and business travelers with just over 5,000.
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El Salvador–EU Relations Strengthened as New Ambassador Presents Credentials to Nayib Bukele.
Duccio Bandini, the new Ambassador of the European Union to El Salvador, officially presented his credentials to President Nayib Bukele, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to deepen dialogue and cooperation with the country.
In a message shared on his official X account, Bandini said, “Thank you, Mr. President @nayibbukele, for your warm welcome. The European Union and El Salvador have many reasons to strengthen their relationship and mutual understanding. Without a doubt, we can be useful to each other and learn mutually through constructive and prejudice-free dialogue. And we should aspire to nothing less than that.”
His statement underscores the EU’s interest in exploring El Salvador’s potential for bilateral growth while promoting collaboration based on trust and shared values.