Ambassador Charles L. Glazer’s Translated Remarks for the Inauguration of the PROCAFE’s Laboratory
October 23, 2007

I am honored to attend the inauguration of this impressive laboratory that will be an additional tool to increase Salvadoran coffee's competitiveness, and, at the same time, will protect the environment.

My Government began collaborating with the PROCAFE Foundation at its inception 15 years ago through a $10 million Cooperative Agreement.  Now we are pleased to make another contribution to the Salvadoran coffee sector.  Through the United States Agency for International Development, the U.S. Government is contributing more than $300,000 toward this laboratory.
 
USAID’s support to the agricultural sector is part of a larger United States Government program to promote economic opportunities in El Salvador. With an investment of $70 million, we are promoting broad based economic growth for the Salvadoran population.

During one of my first site visits in El Salvador, I visited La Majada Cooperative, where I could witness, first-hand, the social, environmental and economic benefits that coffee generates.

The initiation of this laboratory's work will help to maintain the sector’s competitiveness by reducing farmers’ production costs, improving farm environmental management and providing a safer workplace for farm laborers. 

We believe that the Salvadoran coffee sector's excellent performance  is proof of how an important part of the economy has been able to face and overcome difficult times such as those experienced six years ago with the world coffee price crisis.  The coffee sector is also an example to other sectors of the economy in terms of innovation.  El Salvador is now exporting 30 percent of its coffee as specialty varieties, with a value of $58 million in the last harvest.  Six years ago, specialty coffee exports made up only 6 percent of total coffee exports and were valued at $8 million.  I congratulate the coffee producers!
 
With favorable prices on the horizon, a better crop, and technological and marketing innovations, we expect that the coffee sector will be strong enough to face the inevitable ups and downs of international prices, tough competition from other countries and the constant need to increase production.  The Unites States is proud to have made such an important contribution to this important element of the Salvadoran economy, and we are very pleased to help improve the economic conditions of the many Salvadorans whose livelihoods depend on coffee production.
 
Thank you very much.