This article covers trade, investment and development cooperation between India and El Salvador: trade figures from 2020-2021 to 2025-2026, Indian companies' involvement in infrastructure and services, business events, humanitarian assistance, the "Reading at Home" project, ITEC and diplomatic training, and the C-DOT pilot projects. It is based on the MEA brief of May 2026.

Trade figures

According to the MEA brief of May 2026, commercial relations between India and El Salvador have continued to expand, with Indian exports reaching approximately US$ 149 million during 2024-2025.

The brief's table of India-El Salvador trade, in million US $ for years running April to March, gives:

  • 2020-2021: imports from El Salvador 3.82, exports to El Salvador 84.12, total trade 87.94
  • 2021-2022: imports 4.11, exports 162.06, total trade 166.17
  • 2022-2023: imports 2.31, exports 126.98, total trade 129.29
  • 2023-2024: imports 2.60, exports 128.91, total trade 131.51
  • 2024-2025: imports 3.79, exports 149.00, total trade 152.79
  • 2025-2026: imports 3.60, exports 164.59, total trade 168.19

Key Indian exports to El Salvador include pharmaceuticals, textiles, chemicals, automobiles, engineering goods, machinery and electrical equipment.

Services and trade promotion

The brief states that El Salvador's strategic proximity to the U.S. market offers significant opportunities for Indian IT and nearshoring companies. An Indian BPO company currently provides direct employment to around 400 Salvadorians.

To strengthen trade ties, the Embassy has organised several Buyer-Seller Meets. During the 4th Foreign Office Consultations in 2023, El Salvador invited India to join the Central American Bank for Economic Integration.

Metro rail, buses and digital infrastructure

The brief describes Lakshmi Capital as having emerged as an important partner in infrastructure cooperation with El Salvador, through proposed investments of nearly US$ 2 billion in metro rail and public transport projects. MoUs signed with Salvadoran authorities cover metro rail development and bus procurement, and India has also offered cooperation in 5G and digital infrastructure. Experts from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation earlier visited El Salvador for technical assessments of the metro project.

Business events and pharmaceuticals

The Embassy of India in Guatemala, which is concurrently accredited to El Salvador, promoted economic engagement through business and investment events in San Salvador during November 2025. These brought together Ministers, officials, investors and business leaders to explore cooperation in ICT, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, infrastructure, agritech and manufacturing. The Mission organised the "India-El Salvador: Building Economic Cooperation and Mutual Growth" Business Seminar, and discussions were held on the proposed underground metro project and the supply of buses by Ashok Leyland.

The brief states that El Salvador has shown growing interest in pharmaceutical cooperation with India. It cites a major pharmaceutical forum held in San Salvador in February 2026, with participation from international and Indian companies.

Development partnership and humanitarian assistance

The brief describes India and El Salvador as sharing "a strong development partnership". It records that India extended assistance during crises such as Hurricane Mitch and the COVID-19 pandemic. During the severe depression of June 2024, India provided 50 tonnes of HADR assistance worth around US$ 1 million.

Through UNDP-India funds, India is supporting a US$ 1 million "Reading at Home" project in El Salvador. The project benefits vulnerable children across 74 municipalities through educational and digital learning resources.

ITEC and diplomatic training

Under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme, 208 Salvadoran professionals have been trained in India across diverse sectors, as of May 2026. An Indian mining expert delegation visited El Salvador in 2022 under the "ITEC On Site" programme, and the Mission organised an ITEC Alumni Dinner in November 2025. The brief states that El Salvador has expressed interest in further Indian training support in digital governance, renewable energy, software development, technological innovation and water resource management.

Five Salvadoran diplomats attended the Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service between 2005 and 2022. In 2023, India organised a special Public Diplomacy course for 36 Salvadoran diplomats. On 5 February 2026, an MoU was signed between the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service and the Diplomatic Institute "Doctor José Gustavo Guerrero" of El Salvador, for cooperation in diplomatic training and academic exchanges. Discussions were also held in November 2025 on expanding diplomatic training cooperation and scholarships.

Digital technology and cybersecurity

During the visit of Minister of State Pabitra Margherita in August 2024, pilot projects developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics were launched in the areas of cybersecurity, early warning systems and cell broadcasting systems. The MoU on Cybersecurity signed between C-DOT and El Salvador during the visit is aimed at enhancing cooperation in innovation and cyber security.