San Salvador, El Salvador: Mr. Dan Katz, First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today in San Salvador at the end of his visit to El Salvador:
"I was pleased to visit El Salvador to meet with the authorities and business leaders and would like to thank President Bukele and his team for their warm hospitality and productive discussions.
I was encouraged to see firsthand the country's notable progress in strengthening macroeconomic stability and creating better conditions for private investment and job creation. Growth continues to outperform expectations and has remained resilient despite recent shocks. The sustained improvements in security and continued implementation of the authorities' Fund-supported program are boosting confidence, helping to raise living standards.
In my meeting with President Bukele, he reiterated his commitment to prudent macroeconomic policies and to deepening reforms under the program to consolidate these gains. He outlined his long-term vision for the country, centered on improving the business climate, promoting innovation, and unlocking private investment and job creation. Sustaining these reforms will be important to raise productivity and realize El Salvador's growth potential.
We also discussed how new technologies could enhance the delivery of public services, including initiatives using AI to improve education and widen access to quality healthcare. These innovations could support stronger and broader growth.
Looking ahead, maintaining fiscal discipline and reform momentum will be essential to preserve the gains achieved so far. Staying the course with fiscal consolidation and advancing key reforms, particularly on pensions and the civil service, will help safeguard fiscal sustainability, rebuild buffers, and put public debt firmly on a downward path. Continued efforts to strengthen governance and transparency and improve the business environment can further bolster confidence, investment, and growth.
The IMF remains committed to supporting El Salvador as it builds on its recent progress and works to translate it into lasting improvements in living standards for all Salvadorans."
