El^Salvador

Reuters reported this week that El Salvador’s TACA airline has signed an agreement with Airbus for 12 A320 and three A319 aircraft in a US$1 billion deal.

With already 36 Airbus planes in its fleet, TACA Chief Executive Roberto Kriete told Reuters that the airline was looking to strengthen its routes in North and South America. The carrier sought to double its market share in South America last year through increasing capacity and hiring new staff. The airline recorded 3.4 million passengers last year.

TAIPEI, Taiwan — A Taiwan procurement delegation, organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), is making a coffee trade inspection tour of El Salvador to study the feasibility of importing the product from the Central American country, a TAITRA official said yesterday.

The official said that during its two-day visit, the delegation, comprised of coffee importers and led by TAITRA Chairman Hsu Chih-jen, will gain first-hand information on El Salvador’s coffee industry, including coffee quality and plantation management.

In the dark days of the early 1980s, anyone brave or foolhardy enough to ascend the majestic peak of El Pital would have been accompanied by a hellish soundtrack of mortar fire and army helicopters.

But as I strolled recently through regal stands of Encino and cypress trees, all was peaceful in this airy mountain lair, which reminds me of a miniature Mesoamerican Yosemite.

San Salvador, Jan 8 (Prensa Latina) Salvadorian Center for Appropriate Technology (CESTA) summoned the Executive and Legislature to speed the passing of the general Safe Water Act and Drinking Water Act.

According to CESTA, the first piece of legislation is to control the distribution of water in the country, while the second will uniquely control water use for human consumption.