Guatemala City, 4th of May 2023

From early afternoon on 4th of May, Graciela García was ready to set up her stand with numerous beautiful handicrafts that she and her colleagues had brought to the expo that the European Union in Guatemala organised during the Europe Day celebrations at the Hotel Camino Real . She comes from the village of Plan del Sare, Huité Zacapa (in the east of the country). An area hard hit by drought and malnutrition. Like Graciela, several members of various groups of Guatemalan producers and artisans supported by the EU participated in an exhibition where they were able to showcase and sell their products.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mario Búcaro, as well as Guatemalan government and state officials, representatives of the Member States of the European Union, civil society, the private, academic and cultural sectors, friends and partners were all celebrating at the event.

In his speech, the Ambassador of the European Union Thomas Peyker valued Guatemala as an important ally in condemning Russia’s war against Ukraine. He also highlighted the challenges Guatemala faces and where the European Union’s cooperation is assisting  such as in the fight against poverty, work against climate change, particularly in Petén, a northern area threatened by forest depredation and climate change:

"Recently, we launched the Green Pact for the economic development and ecological transition of El Petén. It is an initiative of Team Europe, in which Germany, Spain and Sweden participate, together with the European Union. Together, we committed more than €50 million for the next six years, focused on generating welfare, creating new jobs and supporting green entrepreneurship in Petén".

Foreign Minister, Mario Búcaro, pointed out that “the EU and Guatemala have a long history of cooperation and association, stressing that the EU continues to be a key partner and a world leader in technology, science and culture, with whom we share values.” Búcaro also expressed Guatemala's interest in being part of the Global Gateway initiative that “will help Guatemala to create a series of bridges and opportunities using technology to unite opportunity with the capacity to transcend”.

The importance of the upcoming EU-CELAC Summit to be held in Brussels next July was underlined by both.

One of the most emotional moments of the evening were Ambassador Peyker’s words of appreciation to Alberto Cortezón, the Head of EU Cooperation in Guatemala who will leave this summer after 4 years of much valued dedication and expertise in Guatemala.

After a lottery where baskets of the artisan products were given as prices, the guests took some dancing steps to the rhythms of Imox Jazz, a renowned musical group that performed well-known European and Latin American songs.

In the end everyone received a small basket made by women artisans from one the poorest regions of Guatemala. These artisans had also benefited from the agricultural and entrepreneurial projects supported by the cooperation of the European Union in collaboration with the Guatemalan Association of Exporters of Guatemala (AGEXPORT), the Ministry of Economy of Guatemala and the World Food Programme.

Graciela and her artisan colleagues were all very happy because in addition to having sold 300 pine baskets, they were also able to promote their products among the guests and get known. "I am very grateful to the European Union for what we have been able to achieve with their support", says Graciela as she greets Ambassador Peyker with a smile when the evening comes to its end.