El Salvador’s strategic location in the heart of the Americas makes it an ideal place to
capitalize on international shipping and commerce. Its geographical position and
business-oriented government policies have helped create a service-oriented
economy. Over the last 20 years, the nation’s economy has evolved from being
primarily agricultural to more manufacturing and service based; and from highly
protectionist, based on import substitution, to the second most open economy in
Latin America. In fact, El Salvador has several free trade agreements with nations such as Panama, Chile, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the United States. Through its
free trade agreements, El Salvador’s stable economy gives investors a market access
of 473 million people who represent 55% of the total population in the Americas and
are the equivalent to 89% of the Latin American population.
