# Guanajuato international trade and export initiatives > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/guanajuato-international-trade-and-export-initiatives > Updated: 2026-08-15T13:04:00.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2. The state of Guanajuato is actively pursuing international trade expansion through various initiatives led by the Coordination for the Promotion of Foreign Trade (COFOCE). In late July 2026, COFOCE facilitated a business agenda in Dolores Hidalgo that connected 11 local artisan workshops with an Oregon-based buyer, Cactus Canyon Ceramics. The initiative focused on meeting strict U.S. quality-control and consumer-safety standards for handmade ceramics. By mid-August 2026, efforts to promote exports expanded to include training workshops for entrepreneurs in Guanajuato capital. These sessions provided nineteen business owners with the tools to prepare products for international markets, following successful precedents of local brands reaching the Netherlands and European galleries. This economic activity coincides with a demographic shift in the state, where foreign residents—primarily retirees from the United States and Canada, as well as a Japanese community linked to the automotive industry—now account for 13 percent of the population. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-15: Guanajuato sees rise in foreign residents and increased export initiatives Guanajuato sees a rise in foreign residents, particularly retirees from North America, while COFOCE provides export training to local entrepreneurs to expand into international markets. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/guanajuato-sees-rise-in-foreign-residents-and-increased-export-initiatives ### 2026-07-31: Guanajuato artisans partner with Oregon's Cactus Canyon Ceramics for US export COFOCE connected 11 Guanajuato artisan workshops with Oregon's Cactus Canyon Ceramics, seeking lead‑free, high‑quality products for U.S. markets and expanding export opportunities. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/guanajuato-artisans-partner-with-oregons-cactus-canyon-ceramics-for-us-export --- Cite as: Guanajuato international trade and export initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/guanajuato-international-trade-and-export-initiatives