Private Sector Diagnostic: World Bank Mission Visits El Salvador for Consultation with the Cold Chain Sector
During March and April 2026, a technical mission from the International Finance Corporation (IFC)—featuring Eduardo Olaberria, Lead Economist for Latin America, and Julio Flores, IFC Economist—visited El Salvador to advance the Country Private Sector Diagnostic (CPSD). The mission placed a special emphasis on cold-chain infrastructure, refrigerated logistics, and climate-controlled warehousing. Notably, this initiative convened the majority of the nation’s cold-chain operators for the first time in 30 years to discuss investment opportunities, market outlooks, and strategic pathways to position El Salvador as a highly competitive logistics hub.
ADES and ASOLA extend their sincere gratitude to the World Bank team for their visit and their genuine interest in understanding the dynamics of the Salvadoran private sector. The findings of this diagnostic will serve as a vital resource for designing public policy and attracting private investment to the country’s logistics and cold-chain sectors.
Consultation meeting with companies affiliated with ADES and ASOLA — March/April 2026
First Survey for Logistics Operators and Transport
With technical support from the World Bank, Ades and Asola developed the first comprehensive survey of the logistics sector. This initiative was designed to establish a baseline of cold-chain and dry warehousing capacity in El Salvador, while also identifying future investment expectations and primary operational barriers.
Workshop with Cold Chain Logistics Operators
In April 2026, as part of the diagnostic process, a specialized workshop was held with cold chain logistics operators in El Salvador. The session allowed participants to share their perspectives on installed capacity, regulatory bottlenecks —particularly regarding permits— and the potential for private investment in the sector. The results of these consultations will form part of the inputs for the CPSD.
Workshop with Cold Chain Logistics Operators — April 2026
About the IFC’s CPSD
The Country Private Sector Diagnostic (CPSD) is one of the five flagship diagnostic studies of the World Bank Group. Its objective is to identify economic sectors with untapped private investment potential. Applying an investor’s perspective, the CPSD identifies the constraints that limit private investment in sectors with high commercial potential and recommends public policy measures that governments can adopt to remove those barriers.
Mission Experts
Eduardo Olaberría — Lead Economist for Latin America at the IFC.
Julio Flores — Economist at the IFC.
For more information, please contact ADES or ASOLA.