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Transport
Half way between the North and South of the continent
and with Free Trade Agreements with the United
States, Central America and the Dominican Republic
(CAFTA) and other countries such as Mexico, Chile
and Panama and in the near future with Europe; El
Salvador is the ideal place to become a distribution
hub for all those countries.
Definitely, El Salvador is a very advanced country
as far as transportation is concerned. Acajutla and
the flamboyant new port of La Union are going to
revolutionize the country’s sea transportation and are
samples of the great activity that a country with 300
km.-coast line in the Pacific Ocean is developing in the
area of ocean transportation.
Acajutla is currently the most important port in El
Salvador, while waiting for the development of the
port of La Union. Total cargo moved during 2008 at
the port of Acajutla amounted to 4,435,557 Metric
Tons, with an 8% increase with reference to TEU’s
mobilization (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units).
Originally, CEPA stood for Comisión Ejecutiva
Del Puerto de Acajutla (Port of Acajutla Executive
Commission) and was created to manage the Port of
Acajutla. In 1961, Dock A was inaugurated; in 1970
CEPA inaugurated Port of Acajutla’s Dock B and
in 1975 expansion of the port was completed with
the inauguration of Dock C. Since then it now has 8
berths distributed on three modern docks, equipped
with all necessary things for the arrival of ships.
TRANSPORT, INDUSTRY WITH
GREAT POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE
Lorries queueing down the highway (El Diario de Hoy)
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OF
EL SALVADOR
The International Airport of El Salvador is the largest
and most modern in the region. Located 42 km from
the capital city, San Salvador, the national flagship
airline TACA and its subsidiary Lacsa, Panamanian
Copa, North American Delta, Continental and
American Airlines and Mexicana all operate from it.
The government of El Salvador entrusted
the Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autonoma
(Autonomous Executive Port Commission) (CEPA)
with the construction, administration and operation
of the International Airport of El Salvador. Its
construction began in 1976 and operation in 1980.
The construction was assigned to the Japanese
company Hazama Gumi and its operation is CEPA’s
responsibility.
Airport users can buy a large array of products at the
duty free shop at good prices.Some available items
are perfumes, clothes, liquor, high quality tobacco
as well as a great variety of handcraft stores and
typical and international food restaurants. In
addition, the airport provides its services to 12 car
rental companies that operate in the country.
At the Cargo Terminal Building, like the Passenger
Terminal Building banking transactions can be
made through the following banks: Hipotecario and
Citibank as well as many automated teller machines