Guatemala
India and Guatemala enjoy cordial and friendly relations. The diplomatic relations were established on 16 May 1972. Year 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Guatemala. Although, the Mission to Guatemala City was opened to 2010, during the recent years the political relations between Guatemala and India are in the path of upward higher trajectory.
The high-level exchanges from India to Guatemala have positively contributed to bilateral ties and cooperation; which has strengthened ties across a range of political, economic, commercial and cultural areas. Guatemala opened its Embassy in New Delhi in April 2013.
During several discussions, the two sides explored the possibilities of collaboration in the areas of science and technology, space, energy, education, health and traditional medicine, agriculture, security and defense, and tourism. Guatemala has been consistently supporting India at the multilateral stage over the years.
Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic
- Government of India donated 200,000 doses of made in India anti COVID vaccine to Guatemala in March 2021 and provided essential medicines and PPEs to Guatemala when the country was facing COVID-19 crisis.
Capacity Building & Other Exchanges
- As part of capacity building trainings, nearly 249 professionals from Guatemala have been trained in India under ITEC since 2002. Of these, 177 professionals have been trained just in the previous 9 years since 2014-15.
- Guatemala is an ITEC partner country since 1997- 98. The Government of India has offered 40 ITEC slots to Guatemala for 2019-20. However, due to the overwhelming response from Guatemala, 45 ITEC slots were utilized for 2019-20.
- Several of Guatemalans have also participated in e-ITEC courses. As of now around 210 Guatemalans have visited India under ITEC scholarships.
- Government of India, in an effort to contribute to capacity building in Guatemala, set up an IT Training Center in San Carlos University in August 2006. Tata Communications Services (TCS) ran this IT Center till July 2008, training about 1,500 Guatemalans, before in was handed over to the Guatemalans.
Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)
- India’s development cooperation has been robust with Guatemala. India has always extended the helping hand to Guatemala in its trying times.
- India has been a partner of Guatemala during challenging time and whenever the country required, India had supported the Government of Guatemala with monetary and material support. during Hurricane Stan in October 2005, in November 2009 for draught related recovery, for Disaster Relief in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck Guatemala in November 2012, for Drought relief in December 2014, in July 2018 towards disaster relief assistance for damages caused due to eruption of volcano Fuego.
- An Indian donation of US$ 50,000 worth of medicines was given following Hurricane Stan in October 2005. India donated 36 Bajaj three-wheelers in October 2005, and in November 2009, responding to Guatemala Government´s food insecurity declaration, India has provided assistance of US$ 250,000.
- In response to the need for reconstruction and relief required to overcome the damages caused by the earthquake on 07.11.2012 and also in pursuance of strengthening the close ties between India and Guatemala, Government of India offered a financial assistance of US Dollar 100,000 as disaster relief to Guatemala.
- Government of India donated 10 Mahindra pickup trucks to Government of Guatemala, out of which 8 trucks were handed over to the Ministry of Culture & Sports in April 2023 to be used for conservation of Mayan ruins in Tikal and 2 trucks were handed over to Ministry of Foreign Affairs in May 2023.
