A delegation from Turkey arrived in San Salvador the week of February 17, 2025, to sign agreements with Salvadoran business organizations and the government to increase commercial flow between the two countries. The delegation of Turkish entrepreneurs came to the country to build relationships with their Salvadoran counterparts and explore business opportunities in various sectors. The series of bilateral meetings resulted in the signing of agreements to enhance trade relations between the two nations.
Strengthening Trade Relations
Members of the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board (Deik, by its Turkish acronym) met with senior representatives of the Chamber of Commerce of El Salvador (Camarasal), the Corporation of Exporters of El Salvador (Coexport), and the Salvadoran Association of Industrialists (ASI), as well as with government officials. After the discussions, Turkish entrepreneurs expressed interest in the energy, technology, digital assets, and mining sectors.
“We have 10 companies with a Turkish business seal in agriculture, coffee, technology, mobile networks, digital assets, cryptocurrencies, precious metals, and education. These companies are interested in engaging with Salvadoran counterparts, particularly in technology, agriculture, precious metals, and mining,” explained Turkey’s ambassador, Gül Büyükerşen.
Virtual Meetings and Future Collaboration
The diplomat added that the Turkish business delegation also met with Invest in El Salvador officials, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Coffee Institute, Siget, and CEL, where they signed memorandums of understanding. “We hope we can make the most of all these meetings to increase bilateral relations between Turkey and El Salvador,” she said. The ambassador noted that an agreement was made for entrepreneurs to have virtual meetings every three months, and once an opportunity arises, Salvadorans will visit Turkey.
Ambitions to Boost Bilateral Trade
Regarding bilateral trade, the ambassador highlighted that the current exchange is very low, amounting to only $20 million, and they aim to increase this figure, which is the purpose of the business delegation’s visit. According to data from the Central Reserve Bank (BCR), exports to Turkey in 2024 totaled $1.3 million, while imports from Turkey amounted to $33.5 million.
First Visit of Turkish Business Delegation
Meanwhile, Ali Galip Ilter, president of the Turkey-Latin America and Caribbean Business Council, emphasized that this was the first visit by a Deik delegation to El Salvador. Still, after the meetings, he believes it won’t be the last. The Turkish businessman highlighted that his country has undergone an economic transformation, which has increased commercial volume.
“It is very interesting for Turkish entrepreneurs to use El Salvador as a hub, and Turkey can also be a hub for Salvadoran businesses to access a larger market. To achieve mutual growth, Turkish and Salvadoran entrepreneurs must work more closely together,” he said.
Opportunities in the Port Sector and Beyond
Galip Ilter also noted “extraordinary opportunities” and highlighted the investment by the Turkish company Yilport, which will operate the ports of Acajutla and La Unión for the next 50 years. Yilport will hold 80% of the operation, while Cepa (the Executive Port Authority) will manage the remaining 20%. Economy Minister María Luis Hayem, who also mentioned Yilport’s investment in her speech, said, “We are very focused on providing all the conditions that companies need to grow, operate, and establish themselves in El Salvador.”
In addition to exploring opportunities in the port sector, the Turkish delegation discussed a broad range of business opportunities in El Salvador across industries such as technology, agriculture, and energy.
Growing the Scope of Business Opportunities in El Salvador
Carlos Chávez, the second vice president of Camarasal, explained that after meetings with Turkish entrepreneurs, a convention was signed with Deik to increase commercial ties between both countries. “This agreement establishes a path for growth in exports and imports. It also covers the possibility of potential investments in El Salvador by Turkish companies to export to Latin America,” the leader noted.
Chávez mentioned that the Turkish delegation included entrepreneurs from diverse sectors, such as machinery, software, investment products, electricity, and electromobility. “Interestingly, there is a wide range of possible services or products that could be offered, or even Turkish companies could come here to create their investments and bring their expertise,” he said.
Exploring the Energy Sector and Beyond
When asked if Turkish entrepreneurs expressed interest in any specific energy project, Chávez responded that this first visit was an opportunity for them to understand the dynamics in El Salvador and how opportunities are opening up.
“In the energy sector, they have not brought a specific project yet, but from what we’ve discussed, they have been given ideas of what they could do. They’ve emphasized the software, machinery, and hardware sectors. So, I believe it’s not just about electricity, but also digital technology, hardware, and manufacturing, which are gaining importance in what we’ve discussed,” Chávez explained. The business leader affirmed that El Salvador can offer Turkish companies raw materials and skilled and unskilled labor.
Turkey as a Key Market for Salvadoran Exports
When asked what draws Salvadoran businesses to do business with Turkey, the vice president of Camarasal said, “For Salvadoran companies that want to export to Turkey, a new horizon opens up. Salvadoran companies have an export focus primarily directed at the U.S. and some European countries. Turkey is a market we don’t engage with much, but from what we’ve heard about Turkey, I think Salvadoran entrepreneurs can see an interesting export window for their products and services to that country.”
Chávez believed that Salvadoran companies could leverage the knowledge of Turkish businesses and then export to countries such as the U.S., Latin America, or Turkey.
Optimistic Outlook on Business Opportunities in El Salvador
For his part, Jorge Arriaza, president of ASI, said that the approach with Turkish companies seemed optimistic, following the groundwork laid by President Nayib Bukele’s visit to Turkey in 2022. El Salvador opened its embassy in Ankara in 2020, but the Turkish government only opened it two years later. Arriaza highlighted the Turkish investment in ports through Yilport and other agreements in the energy sector.
ASI members met with the delegation this Thursday, and Coexport executives had a separate meeting. “We will meet with them to talk, and more than anything, to get to know each other, make contacts, and explore business opportunities in El Salvador,” said Arriaza.
A Starting Point for Growing Trade Relations
When asked what sector of Turkey interests them, the businessman responded that they would assess the investors’ expectations, and then ASI would provide theirs. “The meeting is a starting point for growing a commercial relationship with Turkey,” he added. He also pointed out that the business association focuses on the 24 industrial sectors where it seeks business opportunities in El Salvador. “Our main concept is to integrate into productive and value chains,” he concluded.