AfricaAsia NorthAsia South and SoutheastAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaArgentinaBrazilChileColombiaCubaEl SalvadorGuatemalaMexicoPeruUruguayVenezuelaNorth AmericaPacific
Enter the country or territory for the information paper you want. (We do not have information papers on all countries.)
New Zealand and El Salvador have a warm and positive relationship, based largely on trade and development. The New Zealand government announced the establishment of diplomatic relations with El Salvador in October 2001, with the Embassy in Mexico City accredited to El Salvador. The first New Zealand Honorary Consul in El Salvador, Mr Antonio Cabrales, was appointed in August 2003. Mr Cabrales is a former Minister of Agriculture and is president of the influential FUSADES think tank.
Trade Access
New Zealand's trading relationship with El Salvador has been dominated by exports of dairy products. In the year to December 2009, New Zealand exports to El Salvador were worth NZ$5 million of which NZ$4.2 million were from the dairy sector (down from a high of more than NZ$102 million in 2001). NewZealand also exports live cattle to El Salvador on occasion, for example in the year to December 2007 this trade totalled NZ$2.7 million.
New Zealand’s official development assistance to LatinAmerica has been guided by the New Zealand Government’s Latin America Development Programme (LADP) Strategy (2004-2010). This strategy is currently undergoing an end-term evaluation, and this will inform the programme for the next period.
The programme focuses on three sub regions, one of which is Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua). The thematic focus for Central America is sustainable rural livelihoods. NewZealand made a contribution to the international relief effort in El Salvador following the 2005 TropicalStorm Stan. As part of the programme, Salvadorians are eligible for short term training awards.
In addition to the development programme, assistance is given to El Salvador via two mechanisms, both managed from the Embassy in Mexico City. The first mechanism is the provision of up to two scholarships per year to Salvadorian postgraduate students to study in New Zealand. The second is a modest Headof Mission Fund, which is available to assist small non-government organisation and community group development projects in El Salvador.
Read more about the development relationship [external link]
New Zealand and El Salvador are both members of the UN, WTO and FEALAC (Forum for East Asia – Latin America Cooperation) and work together in these fora on issues of mutual interest.
In January 2002 Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Phil Goff visited El Salvador. The visit was historic as the first (and only) Ministerial-level bilateral visit between New Zealand and El Salvador. top of page
Official Name - Republic of El Salvador
Land Area – 20,720 sq. km.
Population – 7 million
Capital City – San Salvador
Religion – Roman Catholic
Official Language – Spanish
Currency – 1 colón (c) = 100 centavos. On January 1st 2001 a fixed exchange rate of c8.75:US$1 was introduced by law and the US dollar became legal tender. The Monetary Integration Law provides for a dual currency system; in practice, the US dollar is used almost exclusively, except in some small, rural areas (source, Economist Intelligence unit, 2010).
Political system – Democratic, universal adult suffrage
National government – Council of Ministers appointed by President
National legislature – Unicameral Legislative Assembly; 64 local and 20 nationally elected deputies (elected every three years) Last elections – Presidential - March 2009; Legislative and municipal - January 2009
Next elections due – Legislative and municipal - January 2012; Presidential – March 2014
Head of State – President Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena
Key Ministers –
Vice President: Salvador Sánchez Cerén
Foreign Relations: Hugo Martínez Bonilla
Agriculture: Manuel Sevilla
Economy: Héctor Dada Hirezi
Main political parties –
Government: Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional (FMLN)
Opposition: Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA)
Partido de Conciliación Nacional (PCN)
Partido Demócrata Cristiano (PDC)
Cambio Democrático (CD)
GDP – US$ 21,169 million (estimate)
GDP Per Capita (PPP) – US$4,848 (estimate)
Real GDP Growth – -3.5%
Exports FOB – US$ 3,861 million
Imports FOB– US$ 6,706 million
Main exports (2008) –
Non-traditional goods - US$2,286 million
Maquila (assembly of imported inputs for re-export) - US$1,928 million
Coffee - US$259 million
Sugar – US$76 million
Consumer Price Inflation – 0.2%
Gross external debt – US$ 9.5 billion (estimate)
Trade balance – deficit of US$ 2,845 billion
Source: Economic Intelligence Unit 2009 figures
NewZealand Exports (FOB) |
NZ$ 5,175,597 |
Main Exports |
Milk and cream (45%) |
NewZealand Imports (CIF) |
NZ$ 973,852 |
Main Imports |
Beer (44%) |
Source: Statistics New Zealand (year to December 2009)
The New Zealand Embassy in Mexico City is responsible for El Salvador [external link].
The Salvadorian Embassy in Korea is also responsible for New Zealand.
The New Zealand government's safetravel website has comprehensive travel information including advice on the safety and security of travel to El Salvador [external link].
Further enquiries may be directed to:
Consular Division
Tel: +64 4 439 8000
Fax: +64 4 439 8532
[1] This flower originates in the Mesoamerican region, which belong to the Central American countries. It belongs to the family of Liliáceos and the order of Liliflorales, which includes many genera and species. Among its uses are for ornamental, edible and used to manufacture textiles.
Photo courtesy of the Cultural & Educational Association of El Salvador Inc.
