President Mauricio Funes announced an investment plan for the country’s agriculture sector, which includes strong support for livestock breeding and basic grains.
Such plan includes increasing the area planted with basic grains to 20.000 squares and improving irrigation infrastructure with $41 million.
Laprensagrafica.com reported: “The plan for livestock (which includes cattle, pigs, birds and others) will require at least $22 million from the government. Reactivating breeding will consume $17.5 million, plus $8 million for a joint research project with the University of Texas”.
President Mauricio Funes officially inaugurated the construction of 16 kilometers of highway linking Sesori with Chapeltique.
Expected to be ready in April 2011, the road will benefit some 30.000 people from the department of San Miguel.
Funes commented that the road brings additional benefits besides connectivity, such as removing the constant mud and dust, plus assisting when transporting goods from the area.
The United States agreed to cooperate and fund social projects, migratory topics and security.
In a press conference, presidents Mauricio Funes and Barack Obama announced a new era of cooperation between both countries.
“United States wants to be an egalitarian partner for El Salvador. We want to support our common interests with mutual respect’, stated Obama after meeting with Funes”, reported Laprensagrafica.com.
Businessmen from both countries met to explore joint investment opportunities.
The event saw the participation of presidents Lula da Silva and Mauricio Funes, as well as several business chambers. The chambers remarked Brazil’s willingness of providing credit for productive projects.
“Brazil’s proposals are encouraging: 1) Increasing the credit line offered by Brazilian BNDS bank for productive projects, 2) promoting new investment in the country, and 3) Lula’s intention of balancing the trade deficit between both countries”, reported Laprensagrafica.com.
The government of Brazil has offered a $300 million loan to renew the country’s bus fleet.
Marcelo Baumbach, spokesperson for Brazil’s government, explained they are negotiating a credit line with BNDES, Brazil’s National Economic and Social Development Bank.
“Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Mauricio Funes will meet in El Salvador next week to discuss a $300 million loan to renew El Salvador’s bus fleet”, reported Elsalvador.com.
President Mauricio Funes is analyzing the possibility of hiring international advisors to fight crime.
The official indicated he will continue working with his Security Cabinet, handling different proposals and ideas.
“During the X National Encounter of the Private Enterprise (ENADE), Funes invited businesses to coordinate efforts with the government to fight organized crime, insecurity and violence, as they hamper productivity”, reported Laprensagrafica.com.
Government and private enterprise agreed on creating a market economy that generates wealth and distributes it equally.
At the tenth edition of the National Encounter of the Private Enteprise (ENADE), which is organized by ANEP, the country's businessmen dialogued with President Mauricio Funes. They demanded greater certainty as to where the country is headed, less red-tape and permanent stability, regardless of the current administration.
President Mauricio Funes announced he will not sanction the decree which eliminates the basic fee for fixed telephony.
Once the decree falls in his hands, the president may constitutionally sanction it, observe it or veto it. To lift the veto, the Assembly needs to vote so by qualified majority.
Funes had referred to the Assembly as "irresponsible" for approving such decree.
Presidet Mauricio Funes accused legislators from his own party of being "populist and irresponsible", for passing a bill eliminating the basic fee on fixed telephony.
The country's two main political parties, FMLN (party in power) and ARENA (opposition), teamed to pass a bill eliminating the basic fee for fixed telehony.
América Móvil, Telefónica, Tigo and Digicel, the telecommunications companies who operate in the country, have announced they could withdraw from the country if the measure comes into effect.
Martinelli and Funes lead in Latin America with 91% and 88% approval ratings. In Central America, they are followed by Colom with 46%, Arias 44% and Ortega with 38%.
Mauricio Funes from El Salvador and Ricardo Martinelli from Panama share, together with Brazilian President Lula Da Silva, the privilege of being in the group of "Outstanding Evaluation", composed of those heads of state with approval ratings above 75%.
President Mauricio Funes stated that proposed Hydroelectric Power Plant "El Cimarrón" will not be built under its current design.
Funes explained that if the plant was to be built using the current design, it would cause negative environmental and social effects.
The executive has requested the project to be redesigned, with Funes stating: "'we will decide if we move on with the project based only on the new design ...
The loan is being negotiated with BNDES, the National Development Bank of Brazil, and would be used in development projects.
President Mauricio Funes expects to sign the loan in the first quarter of 2010.
"According to Funes, the loan being negotiated is for $500 million and would be geared to supporting micro, small and medium companies", reported Invertia.