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Guatemala<br />
Greetings<br />
Guatemala:<br />
Economic <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>Investment</strong> Promotion<br />
Foto: Embassy of Guatemala<br />
H. E. Antonio Roberto Castellanos López<br />
Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala to Austria,<br />
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia <strong>and</strong> Hungary<br />
I<br />
would like to take this opportunity to congratulate<br />
the <strong>European</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Investment</strong><br />
Forum-iconvienna, headed by Dr. Gerhard<br />
Hrebicek, for arriving to its eleventh<br />
anniversary. Throughout all these years iconvienna<br />
has consolidated itself as an important<br />
platform for investment <strong>and</strong> business promotion<br />
for the countries represented in Vienna. I<br />
would also like to express my appreciation for<br />
inviting all Latin American countries to present<br />
the opportunities we have to offer to prospective<br />
investors <strong>and</strong> business operators who read<br />
this publication.<br />
Guatemala is the economic hub of Central<br />
America <strong>and</strong> meeting point for business,<br />
thanks to competitive advantages such as geographic<br />
location, rich natural resources, skilled<br />
workforce <strong>and</strong> high logistics <strong>and</strong> services<br />
center performance. Guatemala boasts also, a<br />
solid infrastructure <strong>and</strong> increasing technological<br />
avidity, positioning itself as the metropolis<br />
of the sub-region.<br />
Its geographical proximity to markets like<br />
México, Central America <strong>and</strong> the United States,<br />
as well as its easy access to both the Atlantic <strong>and</strong><br />
the Pacific oceans has transformed Guatemala<br />
into a direct trade path towards regional <strong>and</strong><br />
international markets. Furthermore, it plays an<br />
important role in international business owing<br />
to a long list of free trade <strong>and</strong> investment agreements<br />
with countries <strong>and</strong> regions such as the<br />
EU, the USA, Mexico, Chile, Central America<br />
<strong>and</strong> Dominican Republic <strong>and</strong> Colombia, among<br />
others.<br />
Guatemala has a consolidated presence as a<br />
manufacturing center, particularly in clothing<br />
<strong>and</strong> textiles. Meanwhile, sugar has become<br />
another important product <strong>and</strong> mining is an<br />
increasing source of revenue. However, coffee<br />
still remains Guatemala´s main traditional export<br />
<strong>and</strong> a br<strong>and</strong>ing iconvienna for international<br />
recognition.<br />
Finally, I would like to highlight the relevance<br />
of tourism owing to the country’s natural<br />
beauties, in a unique combination of beach<br />
resorts, striking volcanoes, impressive pre-columbian<br />
remnants <strong>and</strong> colonial treasures such<br />
as La Antigua, not to mention the color, warmth<br />
<strong>and</strong> hospitality of its inhabitants.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>European</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Investment</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>iconannual</strong> 41
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