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Doing business & staying in touch

Business people are expected to wear suits. Although some local business people speak English, a good knowledge of Spanish is important. Business cards are essential. The best months for business visits are September to March, but avoid the Christmas period.

Office hours: 

Mon-Fri 0800-1700.

Economy: 

A long-running civil war (1980-1992) caused a significant decline in El Salvador's agriculture-dependent economy. A fall in world coffee prices over the last decade has also hit rural communities. The strengths of today's economy lie in a successful textiles and clothes manufacturing industry, as well as growing service industries, in particular call centres in the financial sector.

Underemployment remains a serious problem, and remittances from Salvadorans working abroad are a vital source of income for many families. These have fallen substantially as a result of the global financial recession. The Central America-Dominican Republic-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) provides El Salvador preferential access to American markets, benefitting the textiles and clothing, and processed food sectors.

In 2008, annual growth was 3.2% while inflation was 4.7%. El Salvador is a member of the Central American Common Market.

GDP: 

US$22.28 billion (2008).

Main exports: 

Textiles, coffee, medicines, sugar and shrimp.

Main imports: 

Consumer and capital goods, raw materials, petroleum and food.

Main trading partners: 

USA, Honduras, Mexico and EU.

Staying in touch in El Salvador

Mobile phone: 

Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. Coverage is variable.

Internet: 

Internet access is readily available in San Salvador and the main tourist destinations.

Post: 

Airmail to Europe takes up to two weeks. The main branch is in Centro de Gobierno.

Post office hours: 

Mon-Fri 0830-1600.

Media: 

Press freedom is guaranteed under El Salvador's constitution. Most radio and TV stations are privately run. There are some 70 radio stations in the capital alone. Cable TV is available across much of the country and carries a wide range of international channels.

Press: 

• Among the daily newspapers published in San Salvador are El Diario de Hoy, El Mundo and La Prensa Gráfica.
• There are several provincial papers.

Television: 

• Commercial channels include Teledos, Canal Seis and TV Doce.

Radio: 

• Radio El Salvador is state run.
• Radio YSKL, FM Globo, Femenina 102.5 and Radio Cadena Central are commercial stations.

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