H.E. Ms. Sandra Erica Jovel Polanco, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guatemala, will pay an official visit as Guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand during 7-9 December 2019. This will be the first ever visit of a high-level delegation from the Guatemalan side in 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Republic of Guatemala on 7 March 1957. 

 

The said visit is seen as a significant step taken by both countries to strengthen relations and will pave the way for enhanced bilateral cooperation as it coincides with the re-opening of the Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala in Bangkok on 2 September 2019, after a lapse of almost 30 years when it was closed down in 1990. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala will preside over the re-opening of the Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala in Bangkok in the morning of 9 December 2019. H.E. Mr. Vijavat Isarabhakdi, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, will represent the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand at the ceremony.

 

The visit is also the result of the first meeting between the two foreign ministers during the 74th session of the the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 74) in September 2019, reaffirming the readiness of the current Government of Guatemala to increase economic relations with Asian and ASEAN countries, particularly with Thailand.

 

The two foreign ministers will focus on enhancing relations and expanding cooperation, with a view to increase the total volume of two-way trade, which nowadays stands at 121.14 million USD. Thailand mainly exports cars, automotive parts and rubber to Guatemala while importing chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides and coffee. As the biggest economy in Central America and key member of the Central American Common Market and the Northern Triangle of Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras), Guatemala has the potential to become a gateway for Thailand’s goods and investments in the region.