Readout of the Presidential Delegation to El Salvador

Administrator Contreras-Sweet leads delegation, meets with leaders to discuss small business issues

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Jun 02, 2014, 02:28 ET

WASHINGTON, June 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United States Presidential Delegation to the inauguration of El Salvador's President-elect Salvador Sanchez Ceren arrived on Saturday.

The group was led by Maria Contreras-Sweet, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration; and with her are U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of El Salvador Mari Carmen Aponte; Thomas A. Shannon, Jr., Counselor of the U.S. Department of State; Ricardo Zuniga, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere at the National Security Council, and John D. Feely, Principal Deputy Assistant for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Members of the Delegation participated in a bilateral meeting with Vice-President-elect Oscar Ortiz to discuss various topics of mutual interest including the joint U.S. and El Salvador cooperation initiative "Partnership for Growth" which promotes economic growth through improved security and productivity.

Ambassador Aponte, Ambassador Shannon and Mr. Feeley, held a press conference to talk about drug trafficking, PetroCaribe, Fomilenio and Partnership for Growth initiatives and Salvadoran governability.

Furthermore, Administrator Contreras-Sweet joined a round table on the importance of micro and small businesses for the economic development of the nations and spoke on the "Small Business Development Centers" SBDCGlobal, which under the Partnership for Growth is supporting small businesses in El Salvador by linking them to international trade opportunities through an online trade platform.

"You, small and medium enterprises and future entrepreneurs here are the backbone of Salvadoran economy. You generate approximately 70 percent of the jobs in this country and this should be a reason of pride for all," stated Administrator Contreras-Sweet.

Deputy Director of the Salvadoran National Commission for Micro and Small Enterprises (CONAMYPE) Gladys Melara also participated in the event; President of Vital Voices El Salvador Alexandra Araujo, and five exemplary Salvadoran entrepreneurs.

Contact: Terrence Sutherland,202-205-6919,[email protected]
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news
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Release Number: 14-34