Renewing Economic Priorities in Central America: A discussion with the Ambassadors of El Salvador and Guatemala

On March 3, 2021 the Meridian Corporate Council partnered with Millicom to host a virtual conversation with H.E. Alfonso Quiñónez, Ambassador of Guatemala to the United States and H.E. Milena Mayorga, Ambassador of El Salvador to the United States, for a discussion on their vision for the future of the U.S.- Central America relationship.

Ambassador Alfonso Quiñónez is the current Ambassador of Guatemala to the United States. Before accepting the post as Ambassador, he was the Secretary for External Relations of the Organization of American States, which is responsible for the promotion and image of the Organization.

Ambassador Milena Mayorga is the current Ambassador of El Salvador to the United States. Before arriving in Washington, Ambassador Mayorga served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador from 2018 to 2020. Throughout her time as a legislator, Ambassador Mayorga was a member of the Committee on Children and Gender Equality, in both the Legislative Assembly and the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (PARLATINO).

Throughout the webinar, Ambassador Mayorga and Ambassador Quiñónez noted that the primary reason for migration from Central America is the lack of workforce development and economic growth programs across the countries. Ambassador Mayorga stated President Bukele’s commitment to free market opportunities and projects is promising for current citizens, but foreign direct investment remains necessary for local job creation. Ambassador Quiñónez expanded on this point, affirming that aid is unable to create the same sustainable impact as trade.

Ambassador Mayorga commented that overcoming this issue of migration requires investment in infrastructure to rebuild the countries. She disclosed that El Salvador is beginning to execute an upgraded infrastructure plan by implementing green technologies throughout the country, designing new roads and trains, and constructing the El Salvador Pacific Airport, which will serve an international hub to cities in Europe, the Caribbean, North America, and South America.