Textile Sector Thrives Under CAFTA

September 2, 2008

Deputy Chief of Mission Robert I. Blau visited Fruit of the Loom’s facility at the Export Salva Free Zone on Friday, August 29.  During the visit, General Manager Jaime Guevara and Logistics Manager Lorenzo Guirola gave a briefing and tour of Fruit of the Loom’s operation.  Through 14 years of operation in El Salvador, Fruit of the Loom has grown to become the largest employer in El Salvador with over 12,600 employees. 

Fruit of the Loom invested $2.4 million in 2008 to open its seventh plant in El Salvador, a clear sign of confidence in the country’s maquila (textile and apparel export) sector.  El Salvador’s textile and apparel industry has attracted new investment following the expansion of textile market access under the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).  The sector has registered solid growth this year, with exports rising by 12% from $1.026 billion in January-July 2007 to $1.153 billion during the same period of 2008.