El Salvador is pursuing an integrated approach to strengthen its competitiveness and deepen its participation in regional and global value chains. Its efforts focus on attracting investment into higher-value-added activities, deepening regional trade integration, and improving the enabling conditions for competitiveness. Particular emphasis is placed on modernising the regulatory and administrative environment, developing strategic infrastructure and digital connectivity, and strengthening the skills needed to support entrepreneurship and export readiness. These efforts aim to create conditions for firms to scale up, diversify exports and participate more effectively in regional and global markets.
El Salvador has advanced a comprehensive investment agenda centred on regulatory modernisation, administrative simplification and digitalisation. More than 600 administrative procedures have been simplified and over 200 digitalised, while new legal frameworks have been approved to support emerging technologies and digital activities. These reforms are implemented through a co‑ordinated effort involving the Ministry of Economy, investment promotion agencies, customs authorities and other relevant public institutions. In December 2025, El Salvador institutionalised the Investment Facilitation Committee (CFI) as a public-private coordination mechanism to improve the investment climate, streamline procedures and strengthen conditions for domestic and foreign investment.
Building on these reforms, investment promotion efforts focus on sectors with strong potential to generate value added, employment and exports, including digital services, digital assets, electrical and automotive components, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, food and beverages, and tourism infrastructure. The strategy also incorporates a territorial dimension through projects such as the Pacific Airport and the development of industrial parks and free zones in areas with manufacturing and logistics potential.
The most relevant regional integration initiative being implemented, together with the other Central American countries, is the Central American Trade Facilitation and Competitiveness Strategy with an Emphasis on Co‑ordinated Border Management. This strategy seeks to reduce trade costs and border-crossing times through more effective co‑ordinated controls, thereby improving regional logistics performance and competitiveness. Complementary initiatives under discussion include a Central American Intellectual Property Strategy and a Regional Digital Trade Work Plan, aimed at strengthening co‑operation in emerging areas of economic integration.
At the national level, El Salvador has implemented action plans to maximise the benefits of trade agreements and strengthen firms’ participation in regional and global value chains. These initiatives include identifying export opportunities; producing market studies and technical information for exporters; and implementing training programmes on market access conditions, rules of origin and other trade requirements. Trade agreements are also being updated through their institutional mechanisms to facilitate trade and adapt to evolving international trade dynamics.
Infrastructure, connectivity and human capital investments support this broader integration agenda. The country is modernising its port system through a USD 1.6 billion investment programme and has invested more than USD 620 million in strategic road infrastructure. Regionally, El Salvador participates in the Central American Mobility and Logistics Master Plan 2035, while digital integration has advanced through the Central American Digital Trade Platform (PDCC). The country has also strengthened cross-border integration through the Integrated Border Post at El Amatillo with Honduras and integrated customs and migration procedures with Guatemala. Human capital initiatives such as Up Digital, ALDEA, Emprende 503 and the regional EKO Bootcamp Agroindustrial programme support digital skills, entrepreneurship and export readiness.