Minister of Economy at Guatemala: Our market involves great opportunities for Emirati investments
Dubai, February 11 / WAM / The Minister of Economy in Guatemala, Gabriella Garcia, confirmed that her country is looking forward to developing economic relations and partnerships with the UAE, especially in the field of infrastructure, pointing out that the UAE has experience and technology and the capital needed to invest in ports and airports in Guatemala, which will contribute to accelerating the country’s economic development process.
Garcia indicated in an interview with Emirates News Agency “WAM” on the sidelines of the World Summit of Governments 2025, that there are great potentials to enhance cooperation between Guatemala and the Middle East, especially in light of the ongoing transformations in the global economy and changes in the balance of international trade.
She noted that the year 2025 will be pivotal to consider expanding trade relations, not only with the Middle East and North Africa region, but also with Europe.
She added that her country seeks to build commercial and investment partnerships based on the principle of mutual benefit, so that the benefit of both investors and Guatemali investors is achieved.
Garcia explained that the Guatematic exports to the UAE are currently concentrated in coffee and cardamom, confirming that there is a wide field for promoting bilateral trade.
She stated that her country is actively seeking to develop trade relations with the Emirates, considering that there are great opportunities that have not been exploited yet.
The Minister of Economy in Guatemala, Gabriella Garcia, confirmed that the Guatemali economy is the largest in the Central American region, and the country expects to achieve growth of about 3.7%, i.e. near the levels of 2024, which is a higher rate of about two percentage points than the average country recorded over the past decade.
She explained that this growth reflects the ongoing government efforts to enhance the economy through public investment, especially in infrastructure projects such as ports, airports and roads.
Garcia indicated that there are great investment opportunities in the infrastructure sector, as Guatemala is in talks with companies specialized in port management, some of them from the Middle East, to explore the capabilities of cooperation and investment.
She also stressed the importance of strengthening foreign direct investments, whether through partnerships between governments or between the public and private sectors, explaining that there are many Guatematic products that receive demand in the region, such as coffee and cardamom, with the possibility of expanding the list of food exports to include other products.
On the sectors that will lead economic growth this year and the next, Garcia said that there are two main axes: the first is the agricultural sector and food industries, which continues its natural growth, and the second is the tourism sector, where the government is making great efforts to enhance tourism not only by attracting more visitors, But also by attracting investments in this field.
She added that the light manufacturing sector represents a promising opportunity, especially in the textile industry, as Guatemala has great capabilities in this field.
She also stressed the need to explore advanced technology, including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, noting the need for partnerships with developed countries in these areas to develop local capabilities.
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