El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has announced a bold initiative offering 5,000 "free passports" to highly skilled workers worldwide in a bid to bolster the country's economy. The offer extends to professionals such as scientists, engineers, doctors, artists, and philosophers, granting them full citizenship status, including voting rights.
Additionally, El Salvador plans to facilitate their relocation by waiving taxes and tariffs on assets like equipment, software, and intellectual property. Bukele emphasized the significant contributions this group could make to the nation's future.
While details on the plan are awaited, the move aligns with previous reforms under Bukele's leadership, including adopting Bitcoin as legal tender and expediting citizenship for foreigners supporting social and economic development programs. However, these reforms have drawn criticism, particularly regarding Bitcoin's volatility and concerns about human rights abuses amidst a crackdown on crime.
