El Salvador continues to position itself as a forward-thinking country when it comes to emerging technologies. One of El Salvador’s key steps in the field of artificial intelligence is the creation of ANIA, established in early 2025.
The Agencia Nacional de Inteligencia Artificial (National Artificial Intelligence Agency), a new government institution designed to lead and regulate the development and use of AI within the country.
What Is ANIA?
ANIA is the main coordinating agency established to support the development and responsible use of artificial intelligence in El Salvador.
It was established in 2025 as a result of the Ley de Fomento de la Inteligencia Artificial y Tecnologías (Law for the Promotion of Artificial Intelligence and Technologies), a legal framework created to give certainty and structure to the development, use, and integration of AI across the country.
ANIA operates as an autonomous institution under the Presidency and plays a central role in shaping national AI policies, encouraging innovation, ensuring data protection, and aligning development efforts with international ethical standards.
📜 A Law That Brings Legal Certainty to AI
The Law for the Promotion of Artificial Intelligence and Technologies is a key milestone for El Salvador. It was created to address a common challenge in the tech world: the lack of clear rules for developing and deploying AI.
With this law, El Salvador aims to provide legal clarity for AI developers, startups, and companies—both domestic and international—seeking to operate in the country. This clarity is essential for two main reasons:
- El Salvador wants to become a leading country in technology.
- The country is investment-friendly, and legal certainty is critical to fostering growth and trust for foreign and local investors alike.
🧩 What Does ANIA Do?
According to the law, ANIA is tasked with coordinating and supporting key efforts related to AI, including:
- Managing the National Registry of AI Development and Applications, where developers and operators must register.
- Establishing technical standards for security, risk management, and the ethical use of AI.
- Coordinating with the Cybersecurity Agency to regulate the handling of personal or sensitive data.
- Encouraging the creation of AI labs, research centers, and public-private partnerships.
- Working with the Ministry of Education to integrate AI into national education and training programs.
- Providing technical assistance and training to public institutions and private companies.
- Overseeing compliance with the law and reporting violations.
🎯 ANIA’s Strategic Objectives
ANIA was created not just to regulate but also to promote AI innovation. Its key objectives include:
- Supporting the growth of AI in priority sectors such as healthcare, security, energy, transportation, and education.
- Promoting ethical, transparent, and responsible AI development.
- Fostering an open and competitive ecosystem, including participation from international entities.
- Strengthening El Salvador’s innovation landscape through investment, research, and talent development.
Benefits and Protections
The law also provides incentives and safeguards for developers and users:
- Registered developers are protected from liability for third-party misuse if they follow reasonable safety measures.
- Transparency is required in AI systems used for commercial purposes.
- Free competition is protected, and anti-competitive practices are prohibited.
- The framework complements existing legislation, including data protection and cybersecurity laws.
Leadership and Direction
In mid-2025, Mario Flamenco was appointed as the first director of ANIA. He brings experience in digital education and innovation, previously working on technology-related initiatives within the Salvadoran government.
Why It Matters for the World
ANIA is part of a broader national strategy to turn El Salvador into a hub for emerging technologies. The country is already known for adopting innovative legal frameworks, and the creation of ANIA reflects one of several institutional steps toward building a pro-innovation, pro-investment environment.
For AI companies and developers looking for a place to grow with legal certainty, institutional support, and an open regulatory approach, El Salvador is positioning itself as a competitive and forward-thinking option.
While ANIA plays an important role as part of El Salvador’s broader AI strategy, it is only one part of the broader Artificial Intelligence Law. In turn, this AI law is just one piece of El Salvador’s wider legal and technological transformation.
The country is building an interconnected legal framework that includes the Innovation Promotion Law, the Digital Asset Issuance Law, the recently consolidated Intellectual Property Law, among other new regulations and reforms.
Together, these efforts aim to create a dynamic, future-ready environment where innovation, investment, and emerging technologies can thrive with legal clarity and institutional support.
