AGP Executive Report

Renewables Push: IRENA is inviting renewable energy project proposals across Central America and the Caribbean, including El Salvador, with possible support via its Climate Investment Platform and Energy Transition Accelerator Financing—covering solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, e-mobility, and green industrialization. Local Science: El Salvador’s University of El Salvador team reported the country’s first documented gynandromorphic cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus), found during tick surveillance and feeding into a national tick biorepository. Cybersecurity: Dark Caracal updated its espionage toolkit with GoCaracal and an Ethereum-based fallback for command-and-control resilience, using phishing and weaponized SVG lures. Digital Finance: Bitfinex Securities launched ALKN, a tokenized nickel security backed by independently valued high-purity nickel wire, with subscriptions open until Oct. 15 under El Salvador’s digital asset rules. Energy & Economy: El Salvador’s industrial sector forecast points to 4.5% GDP growth in 2026, citing public-private coordination and stronger industrial momentum. Tourism Tech: Gray Line officially launched in El Salvador with a modern fleet and plans to expand in Oct. 2026 as tourism revenue and visitor numbers keep climbing.

Education & Youth Tech: El Salvador’s “El Salvador Renace” event drew tens of thousands of students in San Salvador, with President Nayib Bukele announcing 50,000 scholarships for public high-school graduates—covering university, technical and vocational paths, plus some study abroad—alongside a broader push to modernize schools and expand education investment. Agriculture Biosecurity: El Salvador reported its first documented gynandromorphic cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus), found during a national tick surveillance effort led by CENSALUD, feeding into a growing tick biorepository and pathogen-tracking work. Cybersecurity: Dark Caracal returned with upgraded Go-based malware (GoCaracal) and an Ethereum-based fallback for command-and-control resilience, using phishing and weaponized SVG lures—an update that could affect targets across Latin America. Digital Assets & Industry: Bitfinex Securities launched ALKN, a tokenized nickel offering backed by independently valued high-purity nickel wire, with eligible subscriptions open until Oct. 15 under El Salvador’s digital asset rules. Tourism & Connectivity: Gray Line officially began operations in El Salvador, rolling out a modern fleet and expansion plans for October 2026 as international tourism surges. Local Tech Talent: Ortus Solutions brought BoxLang and BoxLang AI to El Salvador’s business and technology leaders through a masterclass tied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Education & Youth Skills: President Nayib Bukele’s “El Salvador Renace” event highlighted a major push for public education, including 50,000 scholarships for high-school graduates to fund university, technical and vocational paths, with plans tied to broader school modernization and connectivity. Tourism Tech & Expansion: Gray Line officially launched operations in El Salvador with a “high-tech” fleet and tailored itineraries, aiming to expand further in October 2026 as tourism revenue and visitor numbers keep climbing. Cybersecurity: Dark Caracal returned with GoCaracal, an upgraded Go-based malware framework that uses Ethereum-based fallback communications after defenders disrupt control servers—an update that keeps its espionage campaign resilient. Digital Finance (Tokenized Commodities): Bitfinex Securities completed a record $50M tokenized nickel raise via ALKN under El Salvador’s digital asset rules, turning high-purity nickel wire exposure into a tradable tokenized security for eligible investors. Economy Forecast: El Salvador’s industrial sector is projecting 4.5% GDP growth in 2026, citing strong early-year expansion and tighter public-private coordination. Tech for Agriculture: El Salvador used Google satellite monitoring to help farmers anticipate El Niño risks and adjust planting, supporting large-scale basic grain and irrigated vegetable production. Tech Diplomacy: El Salvador’s legislative leadership met China’s National People’s Congress and toured robotics and aviation firms, signaling deeper cooperation in technology and governance.

Tourism & Business: Gray Line officially launched in El Salvador with a tech-forward fleet and new itineraries, betting on the country’s safety-driven travel surge (tourism hit $2.1B revenue by June 2026, with tourism at ~10% of GDP). Tech & Diplomacy: El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly President Ernesto Castro led a high-level delegation to China, aiming to deepen cooperation in technology, trade, and legislative governance. Cybersecurity: Dark Caracal upgraded its GoCaracal malware toolkit and added an Ethereum-based fallback for command-and-control resilience, after a June 2026 intrusion tied to the group. Education & Digital Skills: Bukele’s “El Salvador Renace” push highlighted 50,000 scholarships plus a broader education overhaul—more than $3B in annual investment, school connectivity, and plans for AI-enabled learning. Energy Workforce: ETESAL’s Universidad ETESAL partnership is training future electrical engineers via real grid experience at substations, with recent hiring of program participants. AI in Apps: Ortus Solutions brought BoxLang and BoxLang AI to El Salvador business leaders through a masterclass with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Economy: Industrial leaders forecast 4.5% GDP growth for 2026, citing public-private coordination and stronger sector indicators. Crypto Watch: Bitcoin payments at Bitcoin Beach are reportedly “practically non-existent,” with one merchant’s experience highlighting how usage has faded.

Tokenized Metals in El Salvador’s Rules: Bitfinex Securities completed a record $50M raise for Alkemya via the ALKN token, a security backed by independently valued high-purity nickel wire (~$1.64B), with eligible subscriptions open until Oct. 15 and plans tied to engineered nickel for semiconductors, EMI shielding, green hydrogen, and aerospace/defense. Education Tech Push: President Nayib Bukele’s government is drawing international attention for a major education expansion—more than $3B annually (over 8% of GDP) plus 50,000 university/technical/vocational scholarships—paired with school connectivity, devices, teacher training, and AI tutoring plans. Workforce for Energy Infrastructure: ETESAL’s Universidad ETESAL program is partnering with universities and technical institutes to train future electrical engineers through real substation exposure, and it’s already feeding hiring pipelines for new grid professionals. Local AI Skills & Software Modernization: Ortus Solutions brought BoxLang and BoxLang AI to El Salvador’s business and tech leaders via a masterclass with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focusing on practical AI integration without full rewrites. Bitcoin Payments Fade: A Bitcoin Core contributor in El Zonte says merchant Bitcoin use has become “practically non-existent,” with only one reported Bitcoin payment at a restaurant during August—anecdotal, but a sign of how acceptance has cooled. TPS Uncertainty for Salvadorans: Hundreds of faith leaders urged the Trump administration to extend El Salvador’s TPS before its Sept. 9 expiration, warning of major disruption for about 170,000 Salvadorans in the U.S. Cybersecurity Update: Researchers say the Dark Caracal threat group upgraded its espionage toolkit with a new malware framework (GoCaracal), using blockchain-based backup infrastructure for command-and-control resilience.

AI for Business in El Salvador: Ortus Solutions teamed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to host a “Build Real Applications with AI” masterclass on BoxLang and BoxLang AI, drawing 241 registrations from companies, universities, and developers. Education Push: President Nayib Bukele’s government is putting major money behind education—more than $3B a year (over 8% of GDP) plus 50,000 scholarships—while rolling out tech, connectivity, teacher training, and AI learning tools. Cybersecurity Watch: Researchers say the Dark Caracal group added a new malware framework (“GoCaracal”) to expand data theft and persistent access, using Ethereum-based backup for command-and-control. Agriculture Tech with Google: El Salvador used Google satellite monitoring to track rainfall and soil conditions during El Niño, helping farmers shift planting and expand drought-resistant production. Energy Workforce Pipeline: ETESAL’s Universidad ETESAL partnership is training future electrical engineers through real grid experience at substations, with new hires pulled from the program. Global Connectivity Upgrade: CAF opened bidding for feasibility and design of El Salvador’s first submarine fiber-optic cable, aiming to triple bandwidth now and quadruple capacity by 2031. Crypto Reality Check: Bitcoin Beach activity appears to have cooled, with one merchant reporting a near-zero number of Bitcoin payments recently. TPS Pressure in the US: Hundreds of faith leaders urged the Trump administration to extend Temporary Protected Status for Salvadorans before it expires Sept. 9.

Satellite Agriculture Resilience: El Salvador used a Google-backed satellite monitoring partnership to track rainfall, soil moisture, and temperatures in real time, helping MAG shift planting schedules and expand drought-resistant seed support—planting 160,000+ manzanas of basic grains and boosting irrigated vegetable areas. Education-to-Work Pipeline: President Bukele unveiled a “birth to university” style education push, pairing computers and AI tutoring plans with school connectivity (70% online now) and major teacher training to keep students on track through graduation. Power Engineering Training: ETESAL’s Universidad ETESAL program is placing students inside substations and grid operations, with recent hiring of 25 new electrical professionals drawn from the initiative. Global Connectivity Upgrade: CAF opened bidding for feasibility and design of El Salvador’s first submarine fiber-optic cable, aiming to triple near-term bandwidth and quadruple capacity by 2031. Bitcoin Beach Reality Check: A Bitcoin Core contributor reports that a restaurant in El Zonte saw only one Bitcoin payment in August, suggesting merchant use has “practically non-existent” locally. Crypto Market Talk: Bitget Wallet highlighted stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets as the strongest on-chain fundamentals, citing rising market caps and distributed asset value. TPS Pressure in the U.S.: 270+ faith leaders urged the Trump administration to extend El Salvador’s TPS before its Sept. 9 expiration, warning of unsafe returns and community disruption.

Bitcoin Beach Reality Check: A Bitcoin Core contributor says a restaurant in El Zonte saw only one Bitcoin payment in August, with staff calling it “practically non-existent,” echoing low purchase-use rates. Education From Birth to University: Bukele’s “education journey” push promises support from early childhood through higher education, aiming to boost the low secondary-to-university transition rate. ETESAL STEM Pipeline: ETESAL’s Universidad ETESAL expands hands-on training by opening substations to students and even reaching high schools to feed the electrical engineering workforce. Digital Learning Upgrade: The broader school transformation includes computers, plans for AI tutors, and connectivity—70% of schools already online, with full coverage targeted. Global Connectivity Boost: CAF opened bidding for feasibility/design of El Salvador’s first submarine fiber cable, aiming to triple near-term bandwidth and quadruple capacity by 2031. U.S. TPS Pressure: Hundreds of faith leaders urge the Trump administration to extend El Salvador’s TPS before its Sept. 9 expiration, warning of unsafe returns and community disruption. Tech & AI Partnerships: ANIA advances El Salvador’s AI strategy with new robotics/AI leadership and expands infrastructure with NVIDIA DGX Spark. Energy Sector Security Training: DSCU highlights defense management advising that builds partner capacity—relevant to regional tech and infrastructure readiness.

Defense Training & Advising: The Defense Security Cooperation University is pushing a “total package” approach to defense transfers, using resident and non-resident advisors to build partner countries’ defense management capacity and readiness. Immigration Policy Pressure: More than 270 faith leaders and Catholic groups are urging the Trump administration to extend El Salvador’s Temporary Protected Status before it expires Sept. 9, warning that removal could disrupt U.S. communities tied to about 170,000 Salvadorans. Global Connectivity Upgrade: CAF has opened bidding for feasibility and design studies for El Salvador’s first submarine fiber-optic cable, backed by $145M in sovereign financing, aiming to triple bandwidth soon and quadruple data capacity by 2031. AI & Digital Skills Push: El Salvador is strengthening its AI and digital workforce pipeline through partnerships and national strategy work, including new infrastructure and training efforts. WorkTech El Salvador: A WorkTech program supported by the EU and IDB is expanding access for independent workers, reaching 13,500.

Submarine Connectivity: El Salvador is moving ahead with its first submarine fiber-optic cable, with CAF opening bidding for feasibility and design studies backed by $145M in sovereign financing—aiming to triple international bandwidth soon and quadruple data capacity within five years, with an 1,800 km route and early construction funding already in the 2026 budget. AI Skills & Training: El Salvador and Platzi are expanding their partnership to add new courses on AI, English, leadership, soft skills, and entrepreneurship, building on free virtual access for Salvadorans and linking digital education to the country’s tech-hub push. Science Diplomacy Framework: El Salvador launched a National Strategy on Science, Diplomacy, and Academic Cooperation to connect research, universities, the private sector, and international funding, with ANIA set to support an AI-powered agent for the new roundtable’s management. Workforce Programs: WorkTech El Salvador wrapped a four-year EU/IDB Lab-backed initiative reaching 13,500 independent workers, boosting training, financial inclusion, and road-safety support for delivery and care workers, digital entrepreneurs, and older independent workers. Service Exports Boost: El Salvador’s service exports surged in Q1 2026 to $1.53B, led by tourism ($884.4M) plus technology services ($131.8M), signaling growing international demand for local capabilities.

Submarine Connectivity: CAF opened bidding for feasibility and design of El Salvador’s first submarine fiber-optic cable, backed by $145M in sovereign financing, targeting a near-term tripling of international bandwidth and quadrupling capacity over five years, with early construction funding already in the 2026 budget. AI Skills Push: El Salvador and Platzi are expanding free digital education and adding new Certifícate courses focused on AI, English, leadership, soft skills, and entrepreneurship to grow the local tech workforce. Science Diplomacy Framework: El Salvador launched a National Strategy on Science, Diplomacy, and Academic Cooperation, linking research, universities, the private sector, and international funding, with ANIA set to support an AI-powered agent for coordination. Workforce Development: WorkTech El Salvador wrapped a four-year EU/IDB Lab-backed program that reached 13,500 independent workers with training, digital tools, and support for better working conditions. Service Exports Surge: El Salvador’s Q1 2026 service exports hit $1.53B (+12.4% YoY), led by tourism ($884.4M) and growing technology services. Digital Inclusion for Workers: The WorkTech effort also emphasized financial inclusion and access to social protection, including road-safety training for delivery and app-based work.

AI & Skills Push: El Salvador is deepening its tech workforce with a renewed partnership with Platzi, adding new AI, English, leadership, soft-skills, and entrepreneurship courses to its Certifícate platform. National Science Diplomacy: The government also launched a National Strategy on Science, Diplomacy, and Academic Cooperation to link research, universities, the private sector, and international funding—backed by an ANIA role that includes an AI-powered agent for coordination. ANÍA Leadership: Dr. Manuel Cardona was appointed Strategic Advisor to ANIA, bringing robotics and automation experience and support for sovereign AI infrastructure and a proposed “Free Robot Zone.” AI Infrastructure Upgrade: ANIA continues expanding El Salvador’s AI capacity with an NVIDIA DGX Spark cluster as part of its national AI push. Workforce Inclusion: WorkTech El Salvador wrapped a four-year EU/IDB Lab-backed effort reaching 13,500 independent workers, improving training, financial inclusion, and road-safety for delivery and care workers, digital entrepreneurs, and people over 50. Trade Momentum: Service exports hit $1.52B in Q1 2026, led by tourism ($884.4M), with technology services also contributing as El Salvador broadens its international business footprint.

AI & Skills Push: El Salvador is expanding its tech workforce via a renewed partnership with Platzi, adding new courses on AI, English, leadership, and entrepreneurship to its Certifícate platform. Science Diplomacy: The country also launched a National Strategy on Science, Diplomacy, and Academic Cooperation, with a new roundtable to link research, universities, the private sector, and international funding—plus ANIA support for an AI-powered agent to help manage the effort. Robotics Leadership: ANIA appointed Dr. Manuel Cardona as Strategic Advisor, aiming to build sovereign AI infrastructure and grow programs like CUBO_ai, with ideas such as a Free Robot Zone. Workforce Inclusion: WorkTech El Salvador wrapped a four-year EU/IDB Lab-backed initiative reaching 13,500 independent workers, boosting training, financial inclusion, and road-safety for delivery and care workers. Blockchain for Development: Cardano Foundation partnered with UNDP’s Alternative Finance Lab for the SDG Blockchain Accelerator, matching blockchain-based solutions to UN development needs, including pilots already in El Salvador. Economy Signals: Service exports hit $1.52B in Q1 2026, led by tourism, with technology services also contributing.

AI & Skills Push: El Salvador is deepening its tech workforce with a renewed partnership with Platzi, adding new courses on AI, English, leadership, and entrepreneurship for Salvadorans via free virtual access. National AI Leadership: ANIA appointed robotics and AI expert Dr. Manuel Cardona as Strategic Advisor, with plans for sovereign AI infrastructure and expanding CUBO_ai, including a proposed Free Robot Zone. Science Diplomacy: The country launched a National Strategy on Science, Diplomacy, and Academic Cooperation to link research, universities, the private sector, and international funding, with ANIA supporting an AI-powered agent for coordination. Workforce & Inclusion: WorkTech El Salvador wrapped a four-year EU/IDB Lab-backed program reaching 13,500 independent workers, boosting training, financial inclusion, and road-safety support. Trade Momentum: Service exports hit $1.52B in Q1 2026, led by tourism ($884.4M), with technology services also rising. Community Needs: A San Salvador-based home for women with intellectual disabilities says it may have to relocate or close after its property is slated for sale.

AI & Digital Skills: El Salvador is expanding its tech workforce with a renewed partnership with Platzi, adding new courses on AI, English, leadership, soft skills, and entrepreneurship to its Certifícate platform. Science Diplomacy: The government also launched a National Strategy on Science, Diplomacy, and Academic Cooperation to link research, universities, the private sector, and international funding, with ANIA set to support via an AI-powered agent for coordination. National AI Push: ANIA appointed robotics and automation expert Dr. Manuel Cardona as Strategic Advisor, aiming to build sovereign AI infrastructure and expand CUBO_ai, including plans for a “Free Robot Zone.” Workforce & Inclusion: WorkTech El Salvador wrapped a four-year EU/IDB Lab-backed program reaching 13,500 independent workers, boosting training, financial inclusion, and road-safety for delivery and care workers. Exports Watch: El Salvador’s service exports hit $1.526B in Q1 2026, led by tourism ($884.4M) plus transport and technology services. Education Investment: ATC and Confecciones del Valle renewed a 32-year partnership with new funding for ¡Supérate! students.

Service Exports Surge: El Salvador’s service exports hit $1.5265B in Q1 2026, up 12.4% year-over-year, led by tourism at $884.4M (58%), with transport and tech services also climbing. Workforce Upskilling: WorkTech El Salvador wrapped a four-year EU/IDB Lab-backed push reaching 13,500 independent workers, boosting productivity, financial inclusion, social protection access, and road-safety training. AI & Digital Skills Push: El Salvador and Platzi are expanding free online learning with new AI, English, leadership, soft skills, and entrepreneurship courses, while ANIA adds robotics/AI expert Dr. Manuel Cardona as a strategic advisor. Science Diplomacy Framework: The country launched a National Strategy on Science, Diplomacy, and Academic Cooperation to grow research links, researcher mobility, tech transfer, and international funding—supported by ANIA. Bitcoin Ecosystem Growth: The National Bitcoin Office highlights ongoing education and daily Bitcoin purchases (~1 BTC/day) as part of a broader adoption-and-innovation strategy. Customs Tech Cooperation: El Salvador signed a deal to improve information sharing between Customs and the Attorney General’s Office to better fight tax evasion, smuggling, and money laundering.