The business sector is demanding that the government take action to minimize the impact of the expiry at the end of the year of tax incentives granted to foreign firms in free zones.
About 1,300 companies enjoy the benefits granted by the World Trade Organization, which expire on December 31 this year. Two companies have already moved their operations to other countries, according to the Ministry of Economy of Guatemala.
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.
In Guatemala it is estimated that the return to power of the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), which has a more protectionist philosophy than the current government, will not generate any changes in trade between the two countries.
While at present Mexico is ruled by a political party with liberal tendencies and one conducive to the country's openness to international trade, the next one, emerging from the recent elections, has traditionally had a more protectionist stance.
Panama and Los Estados Puebla and Toluca total 57 million consumers that are the target of the second edition of the Mesa Mesoamerica.
There are 57 million potential consumers of Guatemalan products in the states of Mexico and Panama, which will be targeted in the second edition of the Mesa Mesoamerica, which is being run by the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport).
The shrimp industry, which exported $52.8 billion in 2011, is seeking to improve infrastructure and implement improved farming technologies.
The production of shrimp and fish farming generates more revenue than deep-sea fishing, as reports by Electronic Service for Export Authorization (SEADEX) and the Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport) clearly show .
Representatives from companies providing products and technology services in the region are meeting in Guatemala.
Sectors being promoted in the event include sustainable tourism, health and wellbeing tourism, laboratories, contact centers, digital content development, and software.
Companies from Guatemala, Central America and Peru since yesterday, September 29, have held negotiations with 34 foreign buyers.
Exporters hope to do $8 million worth of business at the furniture fair which starts on Tuesday August 2.
Next month sees the start of the Expomueble event, which brings together the leading exporters of wood products in the country, where year after year important negotiations have been finalised.
Representatives from the industry expect that this year will be no exception, and believe that deals close to $8 million will be struck.
The old continent has become an important destination for Guatemalan exports.
The fairs organized by European countries and trade missions by Guatemalan businessmen, together with the government, are two of the reasons for the increase in exports to countries like Germany, Italy and Belgium, among others.
In addition, the economic crisis affecting the United States, historically the main destination for sales abroad, has forced them to look for new markets for Guatemalan products.
A first feasibility study, conducted by the Ministry of Economy in Central America, will be presented on July 7.
The report will "assess whether making a free trade agreement is warranted, seeing what will be sent and received, though we must emphasize that Korea is a very good market," said Francisco Menendez, president of the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport).
Guatemalan exporters claim that they are losing business opportunities due to lack of exportable agricultural products and processed food goods.
The country is failing to meet the increased demand mainly from the U.S. and China.
Executives of the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport) noted that the shortages are mainly in vegetables, differential value-added products, cocoa, and ecological and organic products.
The third edition of the Summit of Exports of Services, “Service Summit”, will take place on 29 and 30 September.
At the event, Guatemala will open its doors to Presidents of Associations and Chambers of Information in Communication Technologies from 21 countries, suppliers of technology products and services, national and regional media, representatives of national and international government institutions and over 60 international buyers and brokers, all from Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South America and Europe.
The $ 400.000 raised will go to manage forests in an 11 hectare area in Petén.
U.S. Company Global Carbon Group agreed to buy carbon credits from the mayors of San Jose and San Francisco in the first operation of its kind in Guatemala, and thus offsetting 1.2 million tons of greenhouse gases for 20 years.
For Guatemala this type of arrangement is an alternative to stop deforestation in the country.
An initiative dubbed “International Health City” (Ciudad Salud Internacional), looks to position the country as a leader in medical tourism.
The project gathers a number of health facilities located in zones 9, 10, 14 and 15 of Guatemala City. This includes private hospitals, diagnostic centers, clinics, spas and laboratories.
Julio Donado, president of the Tourism and Health Commission, explained they will develop a directory organized by medical specialties, including maps to easily locate each facility.
Authorities from the city of Laredo are touring Central America, promoting their city as a logistical center for the region.
Laredo manages 12.000 containers a day, it is the sixth largest customs district in the U.S. and handles 60% of all Mexican exports.
Héctor Vargas, city representative, explained: "We manage the U.S. central corridor, which starts in Laredo, Texas (Mexican border) and ends in Canada.
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