Guatemala seeks to strengthen ties with India

Guatemala is a small country in Central America with a population of 18 million people. But it emerged as India’s biggest trading partner in the Central American Region in 2021-22. In order to explore areas for strengthening trade and investment relations with India, WTC Mumbai organized an interactive meeting with H.E. Mr. Omar Lisandro Castaneda Solares, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala to India.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Solares remarked, “India’s Hon’ble External Affairs Minister Mr. S. Jaishankar visited Panama recently and held a discussion on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the Central American Integration System (SICA). We are at the final stage of negotiating this agreement and I expect this to be implemented in the coming months, even before the implementation of the proposed India-EU trade agreement. Guatemala prefers to improve economic relation with India and it is seriously exploring ways to achieve this. Our bilateral trade volume is hardly USD 486 million and I expect this to triple in the next few years.”

Central American Integration System (SICA) is a regional bloc of eight countries, viz. Belize, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. SICA has a population of around 50 million and it is the most integrated region in the Latin America and the Caribbean.

Pointing to areas of bilateral cooperation, the Ambassador mentioned, “We prefer to improve trade and investment ties with India in pharmaceuticals, auto and auto-components as India is a reliable supply partner which meets our requirement in terms of quality. There are also emerging trade and investment opportunities in IT, telecom and energy between both the countries. Guatemala’s two apex industry chambers are planning to visit India in the coming months to explore Indian market and areas of mutual collaboration.”

The Ambassador invited Indian companies to invest in manufacture of eco-friendly consumer products such as compostable and biodegradable handbags. He pointed out that Guatemala is an ideal destination for manufacture of eco-friendly bags using bagasse, which is a byproduct of sugar industry. Bagasse is abundantly available in our country as sugar manufacturing is a prominent industry in our economy. Our country is seriously looking for alternatives of single-use plastics to protect the environment.”

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, WTC Mumbai highlighted that the current trade volume between India and Guatemala is below the true potential. WTC Mumbai will take efforts to enhance mutual trade and investment by signing MoUs with the Embassy of Guatemala and exchanging frequent trade delegations. We are also planning to organize India-Latin America Economic Conclave in the course of time to create awareness about areas of mutual collaboration.”

Dr. Kalantri added, “India is a pharma capital of the world and this is one potential area for mutual collaboration. Indian mining companies can also explore nickel reserves in Guatemala as this mineral is used in batteries for electric vehicles.”

Dr. Kalantri suggested Indian industry to consider Guatemala as a gateway to Latin America and USA because of its strategic location.

Capt. Somesh Batra, Vice Chairman, WTC Mumbai proposed the vote of thanks for the event.

In Photo (From left to right): Mr. Esmaylin Thomas Daniel Gomez Escobedo, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala, Capt. Somesh Batra, Vice Chairman, WTC Mumbai, Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, WTC Mumbai and H.E. Mr. Omar Lisandro Castaneda Solares, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala