EL SALVADOR
Address of Indian Mission: EMBASSY OF INDIA, PANAMA
(Concurrent Accreditation)
No. 10325, Avenida Federico Boyd y Calle 51, Bella Vista
Post Box No. 0823-05815, Panama, Republic of Panama
Tel : 00-507-2642416, 2643043, 2648780 Fax : 00-507-2642855
GRAM : INDEMBASSY, PANAMA
E-mail : indempan@c-com.net.pa
indempan@cwpanama.net
Website: www.indempan.org
Honorary Consulate: Honorary Consulate General of India,
Calle Padres Aguilares, 626, Col. Escalon,
San Salvador, El Salvador.
Tel : 00-503-2483312/2733990
Fax : 00-503-269861
1. Name of the Country: Republic of El Salvador
2. Capital: San Salvador
3. Name of Provinces and Provincial Capitals:
Province Capital
Ahuachapan Ahuachapan
Cabanas Sensuntepeque
Chalatenango Chalatenango
Cuscaltan Cojutepeque
La Libertad Nueva San Sulvador
La Paz Zacatecoluca
La Union La Union
Morazan San Francisco Gotera
San Miguel San Miguel
San Salvador San Salvador
Santa Ana Santa Ana
San Vicente San Vicente
Sonsonate Sonsonate
Usulutan Usulutan
4. Population: 6,281,600 (2004)
5. Currency/Exchange rate: US Dollar
(US $ is accepted as legal
tender)
6. Languages spoken: Spanish
7. Latitude/Longitude and time zone details 13º 69N, 89º 19W
of country:
8. Time: GMT –6 hours
9. Name of:
(i)Head of State: Elias Antonia Saca
(ii) Head of Government: -do-
(iii) Foreign Minister: Francisco Lainez Rivas
(iv) Finance Minister: Guillermo Lopez Suarez
(v) National Defence Minister: Gral. Otto Romero Orellana
(vI) Minister the Economy: Yolanda Mayora de Gavidia
10. Official Website Links:
Head of State: www.casapres.gob.sv
Ministry of External Relations: www.rree.gob.sv
Commerce and Industry Ministry: www.minec.gob.sv
11. Name, address and contact details of country’s central bank:
Mrs. Luz Maria Serpas de Portillo, President
Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador
www.bcr.gob.sv
12. Basic foreign, international trade, etc policies:
Following the peace agreement signed between the warring parties and following the bitter civil wars of the 80s, El Salvador has emerged as one of the most dynamic countries in the region and has played a leading role in efforts to integrate Central America. The Secretariat of SICA, the Central American Grouping coordinating this effort is based in San Salvador, the capital. As the smallest but most densely populated country in Central America, a large number of Salvadorians have found employment in the United States. Their collective remittances currently bridge the country’s external debt.
13. Membership of major multilateral and regional organizations:
The United Nations and organizations, subsidiary organizations etc, Organization of American States, Inter-American Development Bank(IDB), Central American Common Market and the Central American Integration System(SICA) ,and System of Central American Economic Integration( SIECA). Currently negotiating regional & bilateral FTAs including the North America Free Trade Agreement(FTAA)
14. Major industries, global companies, etc.
Major industries: Food processing, beverages, petroleum , chemicals, fertilizers, textiles, lime metal etc.
15. Global Trade and Investment
Total Imports: US $ 6766 million (2005)
Major exporting countries: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, USA, Germany
Total Export: US $ 3390 million (2005)
Major destinations of exports: USA, Guatemala, Honduras, EU
16. Major Tourist attractions: El Zunzal, El Espino, El Cuco, Barra de Santiago (Beaches)
Santa Ana, Izalco, San Salvador (Volcanoes)
Suchitoto, Cuscatlan (Historical Colonial town)
17. Major art forms/cultural traditions and venues/museums, etc.
18. Major Newspapers/Magazine/TV Channels with contact details:
Newspaper:
1. LA PRENSA GRAFICA El Salvador mundo@laprensa.com.sv
2. EL DIARIO DE HOY El Salvador lafitte@elsalvador.com
Radio Station:
1. RADIO YSKL El Salvador yskl@telecam.net
2. RADIO YSUEl Salvador
TV Station:
- Toledo (YSR-TV) Address: Carr a Santa Tecla Km 5, San Salvador
Telephone: (503) 223-6744 Fax: (503) 298-6565
- Canal Cuarto (YSU-TV) Address: Alameda Dr Manuel Araújo y Av Olímpica, San
Salvador, Tel: (503) 224-1015 Fax: (503) 224-5708
- Canal Seis (YSLV-TV) Address: Km.6 Carretera Panamericana a Santa Tecia, San
Salvador, Tel: (503) 223-5122 Fax: (503) 224-3702
II. INDIA-EL SALVADOR RELATIONS
Events/facts of particular historical and cultural significance in relations between India and that country, including date of establishment of diplomatic relations:
- Political Relations
India and El Salvador enjoy friendly and cordial relations. Both the countries are represented through non-resident Ambassadors. El Salvador has, from time to time, supported India’s candidature in Several elections to the UN bodies, including ECOSOC, UNESCO, etc.
- Important Bilateral Treaties and agreements with brief notes
1. MOU on Foreign Office Consultations in February 2004.
2. Declaration for the Establishment of a Mechanism for Political Cooperation and Dialogue between the Republic of India and the States of the Central American System of Integration (Multilateral)
- Bilateral Visits –
From India:
- Shri M.C. Bhandare, MP, as India’s representative to UNESCO Conference on Culture and Peace
- Shri S.M.S. Chadha, Dean (FSI), Ministry of External Affairs
- MOS(RIS), Rao InderjitSingh, (8-10 September 2004)
Visits from El Salvador:
- Foreign Minister Eugenia Brizuela de Avila led SICA delegation to India at the invitation of External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha in February 2004.
4. Commercial and Economic Relations, with trade, aid and investment details.
Commercial & economic relations with El Salvador are modest, with exports mainly of engineering goods, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textile items etc. of US$8.38 million in 2004-2005 as compared to US$6.55 in 2003-2004. India imported wood & wood products, jewellery, etc. of US$1.09 million & US$1.83 million in 2003-2004 & 2004-2005 respectively.
Aid: India donated medicines and medical stores worth Rs 5 lakh to El Salvador as relief supplies for the victims of Hurricane Mitch few years ago.
5. S&T Relations, cooperation in other fields such as Railways, Space, IT, Biotechnology, Infrastructure, Mining, etc.
India proposes to set up an IT Training Center in El Salvador.
6. Chairs in Universities on Indian Studies, South Asian Studies, etc., and vice versa in Indian Universities, relevant Area Studies’ Centres in the two countries.
Nil
7. Major Indian projects undertaken and other ongoing Indian projects.
Nil
8. ITEC Assistance and programmes.
El Salvador has made good use of the ITEC Training Programme offered by India.
9. Other Indian training/ assistance schemes
Nil
10. Details of Indian Credit Lines/ Official Assistance.
India had donated US$10,000/- worth of medical supplies for victims of natural disasters.
18 Bajaj Three-wheelers were gifted to El Salvador on 8th November 2005. These are being used by the Ministry of External Relations and 5 other government departments in San Salvador.
11. Student Exchange Programmes, etc.
Nil
12. Any Sister City relations with India
Nil
13. Important streets, public places named after Indian leaders
14. Types of visas issued, and visa details for officials, students, business people, tourists, etc. from India.
One of the most difficult countries for Indian visa seekers. India falls in the prior reference category. Applications must be submitted well in advance (4 to 8 weeks). Photocopies of passport, two passport-size photographs are to be submitted along with the applications. US and UK visas cut down on processing time. All persons applying for visas are required to have an invitation letter from a local Salvadorian company/host. Applicants are also required to submit evidence of financial solvency. Return or onward tickets are required. Visa fees – Tourist Visa US $30/- & Business Visa US$60/-.
15. Air links with India/Convenient Travel Routes.
No direct air connection with India. Air connection is either through USA/Latin America or Europe i.e. France, Germany, Netherlands etc.
16. Indian Banks
Nil
17. Addresses of branch offices of other Indian Government and Public Sector organisations, Chambers of Commerce, etc., such as Tourist Office, Export Promotion Councils, FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM, etc.
Nil
18. Name, Address and contact details of Indian Cultural Centres, if any.
Nil
19. Link to Embassy and Consulate website [s]
www.indempan.org
20. Estimated NRI/PIO population.
25
22. Important NRI/PIO Associations and their contact details.
Nil
23. Major Indian ethnic papers/TV channels with contact details.
Nil
24. NRIs/PIOs holding significant public offices.
Nil
B(1): MULTILATERAL/REGIONAL/SUB-REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND INITIATIVES IN WHICH INDIA IS A MEMBER
Name and address of Organisation: System of Central American Integration (SICA). Its Secretariat is located at San Salvador. India has political dialogue system with SICA.
B(2): MAJOR MULTILATERAL/REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS WITH WHOM INDIA HAS SIGNIFICANT RELATIONS WHILE NOT BEING A MEMBER (e.g. ASEAN, EU, etc):
1. Level and nature of India’s interaction with that organisation.
SICA (Central American System of Integration) – India-SICA Group of Ministers meeting held in Tegucigalpa, Honduras – Feb. 10, 2005.
- Country with current Presidency of Organisation
Rotating Presidency: 6 months: Costa Rica (June-December 2006)
3. Country Coordinator for India, if any, along with contact details
Contact through the Rotating Presidency or through SICA Secretariat in El Salvador
5. Important two-way visits, if any.
SICA Foreign Ministers and representatives visited India in February 2004 at the invitation of the External Affairs Minister.
MOS (Rao InderjitSingh) visited Honduras in February 2005 to participate in India-SICA Group of Ministers.
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August 2006
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