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Rebuilding a nation
A resurgent El Salvador creates a tasty environment for food companies
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| Embotelladora Salvadorena (Coca-Cola)
Embotelladora Salvadorena is a fine example of how El Salvador welcomes a global economy. The subsidiary of SABMiller is not only aware of the value of global interactions, but is very intent on ensuring the future of El Salvador as a land. "We have a serious ecological program," says Jose Carlos Bonilla, president of Embotelladora Salvadorena, the Central American operations hub of Coca-Cola. "We are actively participating in reforestation and have provided more than two million trees. It is impossible not to make use of the natural resources, but it is important to compensate," says Sr. Bonilla. |
Strength in its people
Perhaps nowhere is El Salvador's advantage more clear than in its workforce, one that is both dedicated and hungry for advancement.
"A key advantage is our labor force," says Peralta. "There is a strong cultural work ethic."
The people, she explains, are aware of their disadvantage and willing to work together to continue the rebuilding of the country.
"Truly we have a poverty problem," says Vice President Quintanilla. "The way to overcome that is to create jobs. The only way to create jobs is to increase our productivity, so we then need to find markets. So we need to determine where to sell our products."
To ensure this growth, El Salvador is working to educate its people with a 158 percent increase in its education budget. A labor training institution, INSOFORP, was created to customize training and employee education in concert with companies' needs. El Salvador has also revamped a number of its Master's-level business schools.
"Through INSOFOPR, we can set up programs for companies," says Lacayo. "The areas we need to concentrate on are strengthening our human resources in technical areas. Business people are involved in the development of the curriculum."
"I see the young people here being very well qualified these days," says Bonilla.
In accord with building the minds of its people, El Salvador is intent on ensuring any intellectual property rights within its borders. Vice President Quintanilla was on his way to collect an international award for the country's advances in intellectual property rights the day after his meeting with Food Processing. The country is also a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization. It is an issue it takes very seriously.
Today, country officials say, they feel prepared to offer a peaceful, prosperous and cooperative environment for any food processing company.
"El Salvador is now known," says Lacayo. "Now it is considered a good alternative if you are targeting the U.S. market or the Canadian markets. We don't blame anyone else for our past troubles, but with free trade we can build our economy fairly."
"What this country needs now is foreign investment," adds Bonilla. "El Salvador has done its homework."
"Every time we have turmoil, we come out stronger," says Guillermo Valiente, a Texas A&M graduate. "We are survivors and constructors of our future."
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