Ambassador Glazer and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sign Grant Amendments for Development Projects
November 23 , 2007

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In a press conference held this morning, Ambassador Charles L. Glazer and the Salvadoran Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Esteban Laínez signed three Grant Agreement Amendments to increase the United States’ assistance to El Salvador in 2007 by $23,482,000 to support ongoing programs carried out by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The amendments correspond to three agreements that El Salvador and the U.S. signed in 2004 and 2005, and which focus on three areas: democracy and governance, health and education, and economic growth.

The funding will continue USAID’s five-year, $122 million program, on behalf of the Salvadoran population.

USAID Director Deborah Kennedy-Iraheta noted that USAID will continue supporting the Ministry of Education’s 2021 Plan; the Ministry of Health’s efforts in planning and improving health services for women and children; the development of small and medium enterprises through marketing help, loan access and export advice; and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources’ improved management of natural protected areas.

In addition, USAID will use the funding increase to continue strengthening democracy and governance and to launch new projects to help implement the recommendations presented by the National Commission for Security and Social Peace.