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Guatemala

Flag of Guatemala

Guatemala country brief

Warm and expanding relationship, underscored by multilateral cooperation and tourism growth.

Key engagement

Environment, agricultural development, climate change, transnational crime and disarmament.

Outlook

Modest trade potential in agribusiness.

Bilateral relations

Australia and Guatemala established diplomatic relations in 1977. The Australian Embassy in Mexico City holds non-resident accreditation to Guatemala.

Guatemala opened an Embassy in Australia in 2014.

Foreign relations

Australia and Guatemala are members of the WTO, United Nations (UN), and UN organisations

Australia and Guatemala participate in the Cairns Group of agricultural exporting countries and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

Guatemala is a member of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), the Organization of American States (OAS), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Central American Integration System / Sistema de Integracion Centroamericana (SICA) and other regional organisations.

Australia is an observer of Central American Integration System (SICA). ). Guatemala is an observer of the Pacific Alliance.

Guatemala, collectively with ‘Central America’ (consisting of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua), has FTAs with the Dominican Republic, Chile, Panama the United States. Guatemala also has FTAs with Colombia and Taiwan

Australia's foreign policy is guided by the Foreign Policy White Paper.

Fast Facts

Guatemalan visitors to Australia (2019 Dept of Home Affairs)
400
Australian visitors to Guatemala (primary destination (2019 Dept of Home Affairs) *
1,500
Resident Australian population born in Guatemala (2016 Census)
453
Australian residents of Guatemalan descent (2016 Census)
410
Guatemalan Working Holiday Makers (2019 Dept of Home Affairs)
N/A
Guatemalan students in Australia (2019 Dept of Education)
62

* Guatemala reports the number of Australian visitors as 7,873 in 2018 (www.inguat.gob.gt).

High level engagement

2017 February – Australia's Special Envoy for Human Rights, the Hon Phillip Ruddock MP, visited Guatemala

Agreements with Guatemala

2013 — Tax Information Exchange Agreement

Australian Embassy in Mexico

Ruben Dario 55
Col. Polanco
Mexico City 11580

Tel: 52-55-11012200

General: australianembassy.mexico@dfat.gov.au

Facebook: Australia en México, Centroamérica, Cuba y República Dominicana

Twitter: @AusEmbMex

Public diplomacy

In 2020, the Australian Embassy hosted a webinar on Australia’s biosecurity expertise to combat Fusarium wilt of bananas. The event attracted over 150 participants from 15 different countries, including Guatemala.

Through the Direct Aid Program, the Australian Government has provided financial support to a range of projects in Guatemala.

In 2019-20, Australia provided assistance to victims of gun violence by providing wheelchairs and follow-up assistance. The program had the support of Australian gun control advocate Rebeca Peters AO.

Economic diplomacy

The Australian Government supports Australian investors in Guatemala by providing support and advice on political, economic and regulatory environments.

Australia engages with Guatemala on agricultural trade and is working to gain market access for Australian producers, particularly from the edible animal fats sector.

Further economic and trade information can be found in our Economic Factsheet for Guatemala.

Business

Austrade aims to attract foreign direct investment into Australia. It also identifies market opportunities and promotes the capabilities of Australian exporters and education providers.

Austrade

Austrade offices

Travel

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