According to Amac News, Garcia told Emirati media on the sidelines of the World Government Summit (WGS) 2025, which began yesterday in Dubai, that there is significant potential to strengthen cooperation between Guatemala and the Middle East, especially given the current changes in the global economy and changes in international trade balances.
He stressed that the UAE has the expertise, technology and capital to invest in Guatemalan ports and airports, which can accelerate the country's economic development.
The Guatemalan Minister of Economy noted that 2025 will be a key year for his country to expand trade relations not only with the Middle East and North Africa, but also with Europe.
Garcia explained that Guatemala’s exports to the UAE are currently focused on coffee and cardamom, stressing that there is significant room for increasing bilateral trade. He stated that his country is actively seeking to strengthen its trade relations with the UAE, noting that many promising opportunities have yet to be exploited.
He also stressed that Guatemala is the largest economy in Central America and that the country expects to experience a growth rate of around 3.7 percent in 2025, close to 2024 levels. This growth rate is around two percentage points higher than the country’s average in the last decade.
He said that this economic growth reflects the government’s continued efforts to strengthen the economy through public investment, especially in infrastructure projects such as ports, airports and roads.
Garcia stressed the importance of increasing foreign direct investment, whether through government-to-government partnerships or public-private partnerships.