India – El Salvador Relations
Political
India has an Honorary Consul General in El Salvador and Indian Embassy
in Panama is concurrently accredited to El Salvador. El Salvador has opened the
Embassy in New Delhi with a resident Ambassador.
Visits
There have been several visits between the two countries. Shri Rao Inderjit
Singh, MOS [EA] visited El Salvador in September 2004. Salvadoran FM Maria
Eugenia Brizuela de Avila visited India in February 2004; FM Francisco E. Lainez
visited India in March 2007; Salvadoran Vice Minister for Salvadorans Abroad, Ms.
Margarita Escobar visited India in Dec 2007 and Vice President Ana Vilma de
Escobar visited India in January 2008 to attend the CII Partnership Summit. Vice
Foreign Minister Eduardo Calix visited India in June 2008 to attend the second
India-SICA Foreign Ministers' meeting. Former VP Ana Vilma de Escobar attended
India-Latin America and Caribbean Conclave organized by CII in Bengaluru in
February 2009. Salvadoran FM Hugo Martinez visited India from 27-29 March
2011.
Bilateral Agreements
MOU on Foreign Office Consultations between MEA and the Ministry of
External Relations of El Salvador was signed in February 2004. An Agreement for
waiver of visas for diplomatic and official passports was signed in June 2008.
Agreements on [i] cultural and educational cooperation [ii] cooperation in
agricultural research and education have been proposed by the Salvadoran side.
An MoU on setting up IT Training Centre in San Salvador was signed and
accordingly the IT Centre was established and functioned for two years
successfully with the assistance of GOI. It was further extended by one year as
requested by the Government of El Salvador and after successful completion of
the course, the IT Centre was handed over to Salvadoran authorities in June 2011.
Trade and Economic Relations
Particular Trade (in million US$)
2008 2009 2010 (Jan.-Oct)
Exports to India 4.905 3.726 3.685
Imports from India 24.059 25.307 24.217
Total 28.964 29.034 27.902
Source: Customs (El Salvador)
India´s main exports include pharmaceuticals, rubber articles, iron and steel
and machinery, whereas, India´s imports include wood & wood products, jewellery,
etc. A Line of Credit of US$15 million was announced by GOI during the visit of
Foreign Minister Lainez in March 2007. Two tour operators from El Salvador
participated in the Tourism Workshop for LAC region organized at New Delhi in
April 2006. PHARMEXCIL had sponsored the participation of two Salvadoran
delegates in the Pharma-LAC Conference held in Hyderabad in June 2007. Three
delegates attended the INDIASOFT conference in Hyderabad in March 2008. As
part of India's offer to several SICA countries to establish IT Centers, an IT
Training Center has been set up at the Central American Technological Institute in
San Salvador and trainers from NIIT are engaged in imparting training to students.
NIIT Training Center has gained popularity in El Salvador. GOI donated medicines
and medical stores worth Rs. 5 lakhs to El Salvador as relief supplies for the
victims of Hurricane Mitch few years ago. GOI also donated medicines worth
US$10,000 in August 2005 and 18 Bajaj three-wheelers in November 2005. In Nov
2009, hurricane 'Ida" caused extensive loss of life and damage to infrastructure in
El Salvador. India made a cash donation of US$ 250,000 as humanitarian aid to
the country.
Cultural Relations / ITEC
Cultural troupes from India have visited El Salvador and given
performances. Exhibition of the Churches of Goa "Velha Goa" was held in San
Salvador in October 2005. A 'Friends of India' Association has been formed.
Government of India has allotted 10 ITEC slots for the year 2011-12.
Indian Community
There is no Indian community.
***
June 2011
