El Salvador

Political relations

Vice President Felix Ulloa visited France twice, in November 2019 and October 2021, and was received by the French authorities on the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum, at the level of the Secretary-General of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Diplomatic Unit at the Élysée Palace. These two visits also provided the opportunity to hold meetings with French employers and parliamentary friendship groups.*

Economic relations

France’s trade with El Salvador is modest, but there is a surplus. In 2020, our exports to El Salvador accounted for €36 million, up 15.5%. This increase is due to the 71% jump in our exports of machines to €9.6 million including equipment (pumps and pipes) required for a renovation project by Suez of the wastewater treatment plant “Las Pavas”, which was inaugurated on 29 October 2021 with President Nayib Bukele in attendance.

With regard to our other major exports, pharmaceutical products have increased by 38% to €4.4 million (thanks to an increase of 113% in our vaccine exports, to €2.9 million), whereas various chemicals decreased by 21.2% to €4.4 million.
France’s economic presence has been enhanced through contracts won in El Salvador by French businesses, including in the field of renewable energy. The French company NEOEN opened a 240 MW photovoltaic solar energy plant in El Salvador. http://www.tresor.economie.gouv.fr/Pays/el-salvador