Taiwanese delegation strengthens ties with Guatemala through tech and green energy deals

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung led a business delegation to Guatemala from September 30 to October 2, marking several milestones in bilateral cooperation. The visit focused on strengthening economic, technological, and medical ties through a proposed tripartite cooperation model involving Taiwan, the United States, and Guatemala.

Key agreements and developments include:

• Economic and Industrial Cooperation: The Latin America and Caribbean Economic and Trade Office (LACTO) signed an MOU with Invest Guatemala to enhance investment matching. Additionally, companies signed intentions to cooperate on the electric bus industry and carbon credit procurement.

• Technology and Infrastructure: Chunghwa Telecom opened its first Latin American office in Guatemala to support a high-resilience sovereign cloud backup data center project. The delegation also inaugurated a monitoring and emergency response center at La Aurora International Airport.

• Healthcare and Public Works: Officials inspected the site for a new specialized cancer hospital to be built with Taiwanese assistance. The visit also included discussions regarding the CA-9 Northbound Highway widening project to improve regional logistics.

President Bernardo Arévalo expressed support for the tripartite cooperation initiative, suggesting Guatemala could serve as a hub for Taiwan’s engagement with other Latin American nations.