Jorge Zablah-Touche, President FUSADES - Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development

When politicians, analysts or journalists want to get a firm fix on the Salvadoran economy, they turn to the Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development, or FUSADES, an independent, non-profit think tank operating since 1983. "We've been spearheading sustainable development for almost 20 years," explains FUSADES president Jorge Zablah-Touche. "We urge the private sector to help solve social problems and also carry out analyses and studies on economic growth as well as promoting investment, he adds.

"That's why we are so bullish on the Central American Free Trade Agreement because it makes sense for the United States to deal with a bloc of small countries instead of individual ones, as investors are not only looking to export but are also targeting the domestic market and the bigger the better," he says. Mr. Zablah-Touche also argues that it is only natural that Central America was considered by U.S. President George W. Bush for the Free Trade Agreement, choosing Salvadoran President Francisco Flores to take a leading role. "Central America is ready for this," he says.