Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs Jose W. Fernandez and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Julissa Reynoso will travel to San Salvador, El Salvador, today through tomorrow.

During the trip, Assistant Secretary Fernandez will sign a Joint Statement of Principles with the Government of El Salvador that will formally implement the Partnership for Growth initiative between the United States and El Salvador. Partnership for Growth is a signature effort of President Obama’s development policy, focused on economic growth as the core priority for U.S development efforts.

President Obama and President Funes announced the U.S.-El Salvador Partnership for Growth during President Obama’s March 2011 visit to El Salvador. The Joint Statement of Principles signals our two countries’ intent to pursue a joint action plan to address the most critical constraints to broad-based, sustainable, and inclusive growth in El Salvador.