“Spain is our best strategic ally in the European Union”

Photo: A.R.

Carla María Rodríguez / Guatemalan Ambassador 

Alberto Rubio. Madrid.

This year is the 193 anniversary of the independence of the Central American countries. “15 September of 1821 the Kingdom of Guatemala’s  Independence Act was signed, the General Government of which was in Guatemala, but which also included four provinces, Nicaragua, El Salvador Honduras and Costa Rica, as well as three states that are Mexican today, Chiapas, Tabasco and Quintana Roo”, explains the Guatemalan ambassador, Carla María Rodríguez, while she poses beside a quetzal, national bird of Guatemala.

Don’t you miss the possibility of regaining that unity, of being a bigger country?

A country’s strength does not lie in its size. We maintain a process of integration. Since the Independence Act was signed, in 1821, there were a number of re-unification attempts, however, what stuck was the current integration process, which was formalized in the San Salvador Charter in 1948, signed by the Organization of Central American States (ODECA, in Spanish).

What state is the process in at the moment?

It has evolved through a number of protocols. The Secretary for Integration is in San Salvador and has three sub-systems: economic, for which the Secretariat is in Guatemala City and the objective of which is a customs union; political, and security and justice. The political sub-system includes a Social Council, the Central American Bank, which is in Honduras, the Justice Court, in Costa Rica, and the Central American Parliament, in Guatemala.

It seems like a system fairly similar to that of the European Union.

We are fairly similar, though there are differences when it comes to the concept of integration.

Would integration be helped by a better and more extensive communications network?

We are working on that, a lot. Some things have improved in the Pan-American network, but there is still much to be done. Also energy connections are very important.

Is the Central American Parliament the most established institution?

I think the most established part is the economy, and that makes the system stronger. In addition, it has been boosted by the recent Association Agreement with the European Union, which is an agreement between two regions, not of a sum of countries. Because of this, in order to achieve this agreement, we really pushed economic integrations, particularly a customs union. Now we are promoting the Association Agreement, with the help of the Secretary of State for Commerce in Spain, so that it is better known and more widely used by businesses.

Has the agreement not been taken advantage of up to this point?

It is being taken advantage of. The thing is that it is very recent, it’s not yet a year old. But I think that it is a good agreement, that can strengthen the every day more extensive opportunities for commerce and investment. Spain is not just our entry point for Europe, it is also our best strategic ally within the EU.

What companies could best adapt to the agreement?

All of them, I think. Commercially, it is easier for the medium and small enterprises to benefit.

How are bilateral relations with Spain progressing?

Despite the crisis, there has been a very big turnabout in Spain. Before, our biggest European investor was Germany. Spain has overtaken them, having become the third biggest investor in Guatemala after Mexico and the United States.

Up to this point, Germany was also our biggest client, where we sent a big part of our products. Holland also, where we sent most of our fresh produce, which they then redistribute to the rest of Europe.

However, now Spain is our second European buyer, not so much in fresh produce, but in our current sales of tuna fish and coffee.

What Spain buys, is it for internal consumption?

Yes, but also for distribution to Portugal. Another of our objectives, through Spain, is to cover exports to North Africa.

Is it a satisfactory agreement for you?

No agreement is ever totally satisfactory, but this one is highly so. We would have wanted free entry for cane sugar, bananas, textiles… But it is much better than what we had before. And, with time, it will probably generate another dynamic which could be reflected in a new agreement.

Guatemala is a country with undeniable tourist attractions, but, is it perhaps not sufficiently promoted?

We don’t have mass tourism, it’s more individualised. We prefer quality over quantity. Now we have an alliance with Barceló, launched in May, to offer specific packages. Indeed, last year, the number of Spanish tourists visiting Guatemala increased by 4%.

What do you think is the key sector in the Guatemalan economy?

The tourist industry is the second most important in Guatemala, but out interest is in agricultural industry right now. It is very important for us to process the products rather than sell them as prime materials. The agricultural sector, as such, has been decreasing as agricultural industry goes up. The textile sector has too, although this is mostly directed at the United States. We are trying to diversify.

Have you noticed an increase in Asian buyers in Central America?

I think so, but it could be better, despite transportation difficulties. Before, we had no relationship with them, now it’s growing a little and it will continue to increase.

Are gangs your biggest social and security problem?

In Guatemala we are working towards the prevention of violence in all areas. There have been good results. Joint work with the other countries in our area has been very important. We are working on strengthening the security and justice institutions.

The Ministry of the Interior has established a Vice-Ministry of Prevention. The police are specifically trained and we are working a great deal in certain neighbourhoods, with young people, to offer them activities or job training, that is, initiatives that help them to make the most of their free time, and to get off the streets. This policy is being analysed by other Central American countries, interested in its implementations. Panamá already seems committed to doing this. Prevention is essential; without it, violence is a ever widening downward spiral

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