"AA-Integration Project" will take place in a period of 80 months with a $11.6 million investment, of which $9.1 million will be provided by the European Union and the rest by the Guatemalan government.

The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Guatemala. According to its coordinator, Gabriel Aguilera, "the goal is to facilitate the participation of Guatemala in the agreement, and to strengthen the process of regional integration and civil society awareness about the positive and negative aspects of the AA."

"The initiative provides technical assistance, training, delivery of supplies, exchange of experiences and specific studies, in order to strengthen the capacities of the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economy, Labour, Health, Environment and Agriculture ..." noted an article PrensaLibre.com.

Source: prensalibre.com

More on this topic

Guatemala and Harnessing the Europe Agreement

January 2014

The elimination of tariffs on agricultural products and flexible rules of origin for products such as tuna, textiles and plastics are part of the changes incorporated in the Agreement.

The Minister of Economy, Sergio de la Torre said that in the next few years Guatemala's exports to Europe could be doubled, as has happened with the other trade agreements that the Central American nation has signed.

Guatemala: Easier Issuance of Certificates of Origin

December 2013

Exporting firms will be helped in the processes to be followed for export to Europe under the AA agreement.  

From a press release issued by the Ministry of Economy of Guatemala (Mineco):

As provided for in the Association Agreement with the European Union- AA - , the governments of the member countries are responsible for preserving the origin of the products exported, for this reason the Ministry of Economy, through the Directorate of Foreign Trade Administration - DACE - has created a streamlined and efficient mechanism to support Guatemalan exporters wishing to ship products to the European - EU, as well as supporting them with training on obtaining EUR.1 circulation certificates.

El Salvador: How to Export to the European Union

November 2013

On 25 and 26 November a seminar will be held to train Salvadoran SMEs in the legal regulations and requirements needed to export to the European market .

From a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador:

The Government of El Salvador with the European Union will hold on the 25th and 26th of November, the "CA- EU Partnership Agreement: opportunities to export" a seminar-workshop, in order to support small and medium enterprises in the Salvadoran process of internationalization and diversification of markets and products to Europe, as part of the trade pillar agreement which came into force on 1 October .

Guatemala Could Enter AA with EU in November

September 2013

The country has fulfilled the last requirement which was pending, the registration of geographical indications, meaning that the Association Agreement could come into force in November.

The Ministry of Economy will notify on September 30 that it has complied with the ratification of the Association Agreement with the European Union and with the 60-day period required for amendments to the Law on Industrial Property related to geographical indications.