Beyond being strategically located in the heart of the Americas (between North and South America), in the Central American region, El Salvador provides a unique opportunity for near-shoring with one of the world's greatest markets: the United States.
We are only a 2 1/2 hour flight from Miami and 5 hours from New York City. We also share the same time zone as Central Standard Time (CST). El Salvador is also part of the bioceanic corridor linking Europe to Asia.
Basic Information
Population
6.5 Million
PDI Entry:
$662.2 Million
GDP (PPP):
$55.6 Billion
2.4 % Growth
2.4 % 5-year Compound Annual Growth
$9,140 per Capita
Unemployment:
4.1 %
Inflation (CPI):
0.1 %
Economic Stability
El Salvador adopted the U.S. dollar as legal tender in 2001, an important policy implemented to open the country's economy to world trade and investment.
El Salvador has also achieved single-digit inflation rates for more than ten years, remaining below the average for Latin American countries.
Source: Index of Economic Freedom 2021
Preferential Market Access
El Salvador has 11 preferential trade agreements in force. The trade-weighted average tariff rate is 7.1 percent, and eight non-tariff measures are in force.
In general, foreign and domestic investors are treated equally, and there is no control of foreign investment.
Banking is highly concentrated, with four private banks accounting for more than 70% of total assets. Foreign banks can offer all the services offered by domestic banks.
Source: Index of Economic Freedom 2021
El Salvador is an export-oriented free market economy.El Salvador is an export-oriented free market economy.
Competitive Costs
EL SALVADOR IS ONE OF THE MOST COST-COMPETITIVE COUNTRIES IN WHICH TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE A BUSINESS.
The 2019/20 edition of FDI intelligence ranked El Salvador as one of the most profitable countries in the region.
Wage
Agriculture
Industry
Trade and Services
Textile and Apparel Manufacturing
Day
$8.00
$12.00
$12.00
$11.81
Hour
$1.00
$1.50
$1.50
$1.48
Month
$243.46
$365.00
$365.00
$359.16
Approx + 34% of legal benefits (Christmas bonus, health system, pension fund, vacation). The work week is 44 hours.
Source: Index of Economic Freedom 2021
Electricity
USD/MWh
Note: Final fee with taxes excluding VAT, country average weighted by the amount of energy purchased.
Source: Own elaboration based on CIER.
Work
THE LABOR FORCE OF EL SALVADOR IS APPROX. 3 MILLION PEOPLE
El Salvador has a good base of technicians and professionals ready to join the country's productive sectors.
190.5
One thousand students enrolled in technical and university careers.
23.9
One thousand technicians and professionals join the country's labor force each year.
24
Universities
11
Specialized Institutes.
6
Technical Institutes throughout the country.
Legal Framework
Free Trade Zone Regime
Preferential tax incentives for income tax and municipal taxes.