<h6>The Diplomat</h6> <h4><strong>The Government of El Salvador expressed this Friday that it is “more open than ever” to foreign investment and to “cooperation with Spain” to “accelerate” the country's transformation in sectors such as infrastructure and tourism.</strong></h4> “El Salvador is more open than ever to foreign investment, and cooperation with Spain is key to accelerating our transformation,” declared Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Adriana Mira during a business meeting organized in Madrid by the CEOE (Spanish Economic Commission for Spain), the State Secretariat for Trade, and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. During the meeting, Minister of Economy María Luisa Hayem emphasized that El Salvador has achieved sustained annual growth of around three percent over the last five years. “In 2024, 14 of 19 sectors grew, and foreign direct investment (FDI) reached 118% in the first half of 2025,” stated Hayem, who highlighted the investment opportunities in key sectors such as infrastructure and tourism. Likewise, the Minister of Tourism, Morena Ileana Valdez, highlighted that El Salvador is one of the countries with the fastest-growing tourism in Latin America, with an 81% increase in the last five years and a 30% increase in Spanish tourists by 2024. "El Salvador is leaving its difficult history behind and is consolidating itself as a tourist destination par excellence in the region," she stated. "With the collaboration of Spanish companies, we can continue positioning the country as a tourism benchmark for sustainability, accessibility, and quality," she concluded. The event, which was also attended by the Salvadoran Minister of Housing, Michelle Sol, and the Salvadoran Ambassador to Spain, Anabella Machuca, brought together more than 150 Spanish business leaders to discuss business and investment opportunities in key sectors in the country, such as infrastructure and tourism, as well as the new project launched by the government: "The New El Salvador." On the Spanish side, Miguel Garrido, First Vice President of CEOE and President of CEIM, highlighted “the steps the country is taking to facilitate business activity and attract investment, with measures such as the Multiannual Trade Facilitation Plan, which has already reduced processing times by 60% and digitized more than 300 processes.” For his part, Jaime Montalvo, International Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, noted that Spanish companies are present in the Salvadoran market, both through exports and permanent establishments, in various areas of activity, but asserted that “there is still a long way to go.” Likewise, Isabel Rata, Deputy Director General for the Americas at the State Secretariat for Trade of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Business, asserted that “Spanish companies are strategic allies of Salvadoran development: with an investment of €352 million by 2025, they are generating employment, promoting key sectors, and strengthening the ties that unite our societies.” Furthermore, she continued, Spain is participating in emblematic projects in the country, such as the Pacific International Airport, financed through the Fund for the Internationalization of Business (FIEM) and other multilateral institutions. Finally, CEOE Tourism Director Inmaculada de Benito emphasized that "El Salvador has managed to attract a record number of visitors, which opens up great opportunities for Spanish companies in tourism management, infrastructure, and digitalization, among other areas."
