Page 107 - STRATEGY Magazine (G)

While coffee may be the most notable of its organic exports, Guatemala also organically produces macadamia nuts, honey, lemons, black tea, and bananas.
AGRICULTURE IS 13.5% OF GUATEMA- LA’S GDP
EMPLOYS BETWEEN 40% & 50% OF GUATE- MALA’S WORKFORCE
4TH IN THE WORLD IN SUGAR PRODUCTION
SUGAR & COFFEE DIRECTLY CREATE 75,000 JOBS
WORLD’S LARGEST PRODUCER OF CARDAMOM
AGRICULTURAL, FISH, & FORESTRY EXPORTS ARE US $1.8 BILLION
SEAFOOD EXPORTS REACHED US $30 MILLION
United States remains its biggest trading partner, Guatemala also has agreements in place with Panama, Mexico, the Domin- ican Republic, Peru, Taiwan, Colombia, Chile, and the European Union. These trade agreements allow other countries
to take advantage of Guatemala’s micro- climates, fertile lands, and low work force costs.
Where these trade agreements benefit Guatemala the most is in food processing for domestic consumption and exports to those countries. With more than 200 Gua- temalan companies focusing their atten- tion on imported produce, food processing has become a large part of the thriving bilateral trade picture. Many countries
are beginning to export their raw products into Guatemala for processing, with the United States representing 42 percent
of such exports. Products such as snack foods, fruits and vegetables, meats, and even pet food have become a significant portion of what these companies process. The production of beverages is a growing industry; this industry alone employs approximately 18,000 workers while gen- erating US $200 million annually. Canned goods have surpassed US $105 million and confectionary US $72 million.
Guatemala’s fertile soil, amended by volcanoes and well hydrated, allows for rapid vegetation growth. This is most evident in the region’s forestry. Fifteen years of growth from a Guatemalan tree is equal to the global average of 80 years, meaning that harvest cycles are faster and profits are greater. Though there
are obvious positives for rapid growth in terms of agronomics and potential profits,
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