María Luisa Hayem

María Luisa Hayem has more than 22 years of experience in trade policy, financial inclusion, and economic development. Since 2019, she has served as the Minister of Economy of El Salvador, where she leads national efforts to strengthen the country’s business climate, attract private and public investment, increase exports, promote innovation and technology adoption, and generate more and better jobs.

From 2009 to 2016, Hayem worked at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and later joined the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) in Washington, D.C., where she led initiatives to expand access to financial products and services for underserved populations across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa. She began her career in 2003 as Counselor of the Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Hayem holds a master’s degree in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University, with a concentration in economic development and international business. She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and business from the Escuela Superior de Economía y Negocios (ESEN) in El Salvador, as well as a Project Management Certificate from Georgetown University and a French Language Diploma from La Sorbonne. Her continued executive education includes MIT’s Digital Transformation Program (AI, IoT, Cloud, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity) and INCAE Business School’s Certificate in High-Impact Communication.