| Basic data | |
| Capital | Guatemala City |
| Population | 18.3 million (2021) |
| Language | Spanish |
| Religion | 70% Catholic |
| State system | parliamentary republic |
| Head of State | Alejandro Giammattei Falla |
| Head of government | Alejandro Giammattei Falla |
| Currency name | quetzal (GTQ) |
| Travel | |
| Time shift | -7 hours (in summer -8 hours) |
| Economy | 2021 |
| Nominal GDP (billion USD) | 86 |
| Economic growth (%) | 8 |
| Inflation (%) | 3.1 |
| Unemployment (%) | 3.6 |
The government of Guatemala is appointed and directed by the President of the Republic and has a total of 26 ministers. The elected unicameral parliament has 160 members. The judicial system is 3-level and has formal independence, which is supervised by the Constitutional Court, which can express itself on important issues of the protection of constitutional rights and freedoms. The largest group of the population (who together speak 24 languages) consists of mestizos (50%), followed by Indians (44%), whites make up 5% of the total population, blacks 1%.
According to allcountrylist, Guatemala is the largest economy in Central America with a GDP of about USD 86 billion. The largest employer in the country is the agricultural sector with 30% of the population contributing 10% to the country’s GDP. Conversely, the service sector contributes the most to GDP (62%), industry contributes 22% to GDP. The trade balance is significantly in deficit, which is caused by the need to export products with low added value (especially sugar, cardamom, coffee, fruit and vegetables and spirits) and, conversely, by importing consumer goods, technology and oil. The largest trading partner is the USA, the EU takes 4th place. The Czech Republic’s exports to Guatemala have a stable trend and are mainly oriented towards weapons and products with a higher added value.
The Covid-19 pandemic and hurricanes Eta and Iota ended three decades of economic growth in Guatemala. Even so, the country experienced one of the smallest GDP declines in 2020 in the Latin American region (-1.8%), and economic activity recovered to pre-pandemic levels the very next year, supported by a record inflow of remittances. GDP growth in 2021 reached the highest in history in the last 44 years, namely 8%. The government prioritizes improving security and infrastructure, which would make Guatemala more attractive to foreign investors, but the president is having trouble finding a majority in Congress. It is very fragmented, moreover, before the elections in 2023, the opposition is starting to get stronger.
Contacts
Subchapters:
- Contacts to Czech embassies in the territory
- Practical telephone numbers (emergency services, police, firefighters, information lines, etc.)
- Important Internet links and contacts
Contacts at the embassies of the Czech Republic in the territory
The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Mexico is accredited for Guatemala, under which the PaulTrade office in Mexico falls.
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Mexico
Address: Cuvier 22, Colonia Nueva Anzures, Delegación Miguel Hidalgo, Ciudad de México, 115 90
Tel.: (+52) 55 5531 2544
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.mzv. cz/mexico
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CZenMX/
Fax: (+52) 55 5531 1837
E-mail of the commercial department: [email protected]
E-mail of the consular department: [email protected]
Working hours: Monday – Friday 8.00 – 16.30
Honorary Consulate of Guatemala
Head of Office: Mr. José Luis Guzmán Segura
Address: 18 calle 14-12, Zona 13, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Tel.: +502 236 004 07(office), +502 302 774 57, +502 595 760 68 (mobile phones)
E-mail: [email protected]
Office hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
PaulTrade Mexico City
Address: Lago Alberto 375, Anáhuac I Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, Ciudad de México, México
Tel.: +52 55 8218 3517 (mobile)
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.PaulTrade.cz; www.PaulTrade-mexico.com.mx
Delegation of the European Union to Guatemala Head of Mission: Thomas Peyker, Ambassador
Address: Edificio Europlaza: 5a Avenida 5-55, Zona14, Torre II, Nivel 17 Ciudad de Guatemala Guatemala
Tel.: +502 2300-5900 Fax: +502 2300-5996
E -mail: [email protected]
Website: https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/guatemala_es
Practical telephone numbers (emergency services, police, firemen, information lines, etc.)
Single emergency number (ambulance, police, fire): 911
Police: 110
Volunteer fire brigade: 122
Ambulance and fire brigade: 123
Red Cross: 125/ 2381-6565 Information
line COVID19: 1212
Important web links and contacts
Government: https://www.guatemala.gob.gt/
Office of the President: https://www.presidencia.gob.gt/
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: http://www.minex.gob.gt/
Ministry of the Interior: http: //mingob.gob.gt/
Ministry of Economy: https://www.mineco.gob.gt/
Ministry of National Defense: http://www.mindef.mil.gt/
Ministry of Public Finance: http://www.minfin.gob.gt/
Ministry of Agriculture and Food: https://www.maga.gob.gt/
Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance: https://www.mspas.gob.gt/
Ministry of Energy and Mining: http:// www.mem.gob.gt/
Ministry of Culture and Sports: http://mcd.gob.gt/
Ministry of Education: http://www.mineduc.gob.gt/
Ministry of Labor and Social Security: http://www.mintrabajo.gob.gt/
Ministry of Life environment: http://www.marn.gob.gt/
Ministry of Social Development: http://www.mides.gob.gt/
Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing: http://www.civ.gob.gt/
Broad spectrum of information about Guatemala: www.visitguatemala.com
State contracts: https://www.guatecompras.gt/
