With the presence of business leaders, government authorities, and members of the Salvadoran diaspora, the Australia–El Salvador Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AUSVCC) was officially inaugurated. The event, held on 21 August at the historic Queen’s Hall in the Parliament of Victoria, Melbourne, brought together more than one hundred representatives from both the public and private sectors with the aim of strengthening economic cooperation and opening new trade opportunities between the two nations.
The ceremony featured the participation of the Vice President of the Republic of El Salvador, His Excellency Mr. Félix Ulloa Jr., who, in his keynote address, presented an overview of bilateral trade and its growth potential. He also shared insights into the structural transformations El Salvador has undergone in terms of security and investment under the leadership of President Nayib Bukele, highlighting the new environment of confidence and competitiveness that positions the country as a strategic partner for Australia.
In his remarks, Vice President Ulloa stated: “On behalf of the Government of President Nayib Bukele, I would like to congratulate you on the launch of the Australia–El Salvador Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This is a historic moment… we welcome the AUSVCC and hope this is just the beginning, the first step in building and strengthening the relationship between our two nations.”
For her part, Aury Van Sanden, President of the AUSVCC and an active member of the Salvadoran diaspora in Australia since the 1990s, emphasized the importance of fostering bilateral investment, particularly in sectors such as tourism infrastructure, agribusiness, and technology startups. “We know that El Salvador is undergoing an extraordinary transformation: strengthening its institutions, modernizing its economy, and opening new doors for international collaboration. At the same time, Australia offers one of the most dynamic business environments in the world, with a strong commitment to innovation and sustainability. This Chamber stands at the crossroads of those opportunities. It will be a space where ideas become partnerships, and where partnerships become shared prosperity,” she affirmed.
During the ceremony, the new Board of Directors—comprising entrepreneurs from the financial, telecommunications, infrastructure, and legal sectors—presented pioneering free programs designed for the Salvadoran community abroad. These include the Australian Legal Support Program for Salvadorans (ASLS), which provides free legal advice on Australian law, and IMPULSA, a strategic platform that connects Salvadoran small and medium-sized enterprises with investors and business partners across the Asia–Pacific region.
Australia and El Salvador established diplomatic relations in 1983 and have since maintained cordial ties supported by multilateral cooperation and strong people-to-people connections. Between 1983 and 1986, Australia welcomed nearly 10,000 Salvadorans through the Special Humanitarian Program, making it the third-largest Salvadoran community in the world. Both nations collaborate in forums such as the UN, WTO, and World Bank.
These historic ties and the growing scope of multilateral cooperation provide a solid foundation for the AUSVCC to establish itself as a key catalyst in building a stronger, more innovative, and more strategic commercial relationship between Australia and El Salvador in the years to come.
