July 10, 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

As Canada and Guatemala celebrate 65 years of bilateral relations, and 50 years of development cooperation, the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development) visited Guatemala to build on this strong partnership and explore broadening opportunities for collaboration across Central America.

During his visit, Secretary of State Sarai announced over $47 million in development funding for 5 projects across Latin America and the Caribbean. These initiatives will strengthen the region’s economic growth and social interconnections through support for vulnerable populations, such as Indigenous women, while advancing human rights and strengthening climate resilience and food security.

Secretary of State Sarai began his trip by visiting an agro-forestry project, in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). In El Progreso he saw firsthand how Canada’s support is helping small-scale farmers adopt sustainable agricultural practices, increase productivity, access financing, and strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable regions.

Canada continues to be a strong partner of IDB, as Secretary of State Sarai and IDB President Ilan Goldfajn jointly signed a Guarantee Agreement worth US$200 million. This agreement was first announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. This innovative mechanism will enable the IDB to unlock up to US$1 billion in new financing for supporting economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean region.

At Galileo University, Secretary of State Sarai viewed a demonstration of the AI powered ultrasound device used in the International Development Research Centre’s (IDRC) NatalIA (Spanish for “BirthAI”) project. With Canada’s support, innovative AI solutions are expanding access to community-based healthcare services in rural and hard to reach regions with large Indigenous populations, with medical practitioners now able to provide care remotely, saving lives and delivering more healthy babies.

Secretary of State Sarai participated in the launch of project NIM KAT, (Inclusive Business Ecosystems in Areas Affected by Migration) alongside CECI. He saw how Canada’s funding will help build a more inclusive economic environment for young Indigenous women by helping them build businesses or improving their employability. Leveraging the potential of remittances, they receive from abroad, the participants in this project will increase their ability to invest in their local economies, improve social well-being, and actively participate in their communities.

In El Rancho-Teculután, Secretary of State Sarai visited FEDECOVERA’s (Federation of Cooperatives of the Verapaces) Forestry Complex. There he witnessed the impact of Canada’s support which helped transform an Indigenous-run cooperative scaling raw commodities into industrial manufacturing. Building on this momentum, Secretary of State Sarai also visited Sacatepéquez Women’s Association for Development (AFEDES) in Santiago Sacatepéquez, where he gained first-hand insight into the importance of safeguarding traditional Indigenous practices in the textile industry. These visits demonstrate Canada’s commitment to supporting Indigenous women’s economic inclusion and protecting intellectual property rights through sustainable partnerships.

In Guatemala City, Secretary of State Sarai met with Carlos Ramiro Martínez Alvarado, Guatemala’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Enrique Maldonado, acting Presidential Planning Secretary, Canadian businesses leaders and development representatives. They discussed mutual priorities, including shared economic growth, democratic institutions, and security.

Secretary of State Sarai concluded his visit by meeting small scale coffee farmers to highlight one of Canada’s flagship development initiatives, Coffee for Communities. Through this project, Canadian expertise and investments will create sustainable supply chains, while supporting climate resilience and livelihoods for smallholder coffee farmers in Guatemala.

Secretary of State Sarai’s visit to Guatemala reinforces the mutual benefits that are created by aligning development and trade opportunities for Canadian expertise in Guatemala’s markets. Secretary of State Sarai’s engagements underscore Canada’s proactive efforts to strengthen economic resilience and sustainable development, while shaping a more inclusive future for everyone.