The current amount would pay the country’s entire national debt.
The country's strong economic performance, the increase in remittances and a rise of almost 20% in exports has allowed the growth of international reserves, an important macroeconomic indicator which measures the country's payment capacity.
As of May reserves amounted to $6421.1 million, while external public debt amounted to $5337.6 million.
According to a recent Banguat report, in 2009 57% of all foreign direct investment (FDI) was directed to the services sector.
Natural resources accounted for 23% and manufacturing 8.5%, while for 2011 authorities expect foreign investment to increase 11% when compared to 2010.
“Analyst Rubén Darío Narciso, noted that call centers played a significant role in this increase, as well as telecommunications”, reported Siglo21.com.gt.
Agriculture, industry and services are the sectors that have led the growth of the Guatemalan economy during the first decade of the millennium.
The ninth anniversary of the creation of Guatemalan´s newspaper Siglo XXI section, "Pulso", which specializes in economy and finance, prompted the analysis of the economy´s evolution in that period.
The editorial highlights the agricultural, industrial and services sectors, followed by construction and commerce.