El Salvador’s president supports local businesses with free coffee: Video
In a unique initiative, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has taken a hands-on approach to support local businesses by offering free coffee.
This initiative, announced on his social media accounts, involves Bukele personally donating 200 pounds of coffee and 8,000 cups to local restaurants for free distribution to customers
Bukele's campaign, which he promotes under the slogan "The ‘presi’ invites you for a coffee," aims to boost local businesses by attracting more customers. The president's coffee comes from his farm, and he has committed to selecting one business each day to receive the donation.
This initiative was highlighted when a newly opened restaurant in downtown San Salvador, featuring a mural of Bukele, Franco's Pupusa, saw a significant increase in customer traffic after offering free coffee and pupusas, a traditional Salvadoran dish.
While the president's motivations remain a topic of debate, with some critics labelling the move as populist, others see it as a clever marketing strategy. Sociologist René Martínez noted that Bukele's background as a publicist might be influencing his approach, suggesting that giving people a sample of his coffee is an effective way to promote both his product and local businesses.
This initiative is part of Bukele's broader efforts to tackle economic challenges in El Salvador. Following his successful campaign against gang violence, Bukele has now set his sights on addressing the "mafias" that keep food prices high. By promoting local businesses and providing tangible support, he aims to create a more vibrant and self-sustaining local economy.
