El Salvador expands South American trade through Peru and Bolivia agreements

El Salvador is expanding its commercial reach into South America through new strategic initiatives and trade agreements. The Corporación de Exportadores de El Salvador (Coexport) has launched the ‘Puente Empresarial Perú-El Salvador’ in partnership with the Cámara Peruana de Franquicias (CPF). This framework agreement aims to facilitate cross-border expansion, joint ventures, and foreign direct investment between Central and South America.

The initiative includes a binational franchise desk, specialized internationalization training, and reciprocal trade missions. A pilot program will initially target up to 10 companies per country to identify export-ready firms. This follows a commercial relationship where, in 2025, Salvadoran exports to Peru reached $11.1 million while imports from Peru totaled $98.3 million.

Additionally, Coexport is exploring new market opportunities in Bolivia. While formal implementation of the trade agreement with Bolivia is pending, Coexport is preparing training activities to help Salvadoran companies navigate this South American market. The organization is coordinating with Invest in El Salvador and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to participate in international trade fairs to promote Salvadoran exports.