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El Salvador maintains a commercial presence in over 40 countries worldwide and is looking to expand the destinations for its products, with the goal of strengthening exports and creating new opportunities for domestic companies. This was stated by the Minister of Economy, María Luisa Hayem, during an interview on the Diálogo 21 program, where she highlighted efforts to secure greater trade preferences and facilitate access for salvadoran products to international markets.
The official explained that the country is working to leverage its existing trade platform and open new doors for exporters. As part of these efforts, she noted that in 2025, a total of 204 salvadoran products reached new international destinations, a reflection of the ongoing search for opportunities to diversify foreign sales and broaden the reach of domestic production.
Hayem also reported that salvadoran exports grew by 4% between january and september 2026. She noted that Central America, the United States, and Mexico remain key destinations for domestic products; therefore, expanding access to other markets represents an opportunity to strengthen trade relations and reduce dependence on a limited group of buyers.
Expanding into new destinations can benefit salvadoran companies by allowing them to find more customers, increase sales, and scale their operations. To achieve this, companies must meet the specific demands of each market, such as those related to quality, presentation, production volume, and sanitary or technical requirements, depending on the type of product being sold.
The Minister emphasized that economic growth is also linked to the conditions that allow businesses to establish themselves and thrive. In this context, she noted that the salvadoran economy grew by 5.1% during the second quarter of 2026 and pointed to security as one of the factors that, in her view, has helped create a favorable environment for economic activity.
Furthermore, Hayem indicated that the government maintains an economic growth expectation of 4.5% for 2026, in line with the projection attributed to the World Bank. The official noted that coordinated efforts among institutions aim to contribute to meeting this goal through actions designed to boost investment, productive activity, and foreign trade.
Among the initiatives to strengthen the business sector, the minister also mentioned a $150 million project with the World Bank, aimed at supporting micro and small enterprises through training programs across the country. As she explained, the objective is to enhance the capabilities of these businesses so they can play a more significant role in the national economy.
Expanding into international markets presents an opportunity for more Salvadoran companies to place their products abroad and increase their growth potential. In this regard, the challenge will be to sustain the progress of exports, introduce more products to new destinations, and ensure that a greater number of companies, especially micro and small enterprises can take advantage of international trade opportunities.
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