Alejandro Giamatti, President of the Republic of Guatemala, received a delegation from the Department of Government Relations (DGR) in Sharjah, led by their Chairman, Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, in the presence of Janio Rosales, Guatemala’s Minister of Economy to discuss emerging prospects for boosting economic cooperation.

The delegation also visited the Republic of Costa Rica, during which Sheikh Fahim held key meetings with senior officials to explore ways to boost collaboration, particularly in sectors of economy and development.

Advancing partnerships with Guatemala visit In Guatemala, the DGR delegation gained insights on an economic development plan, and also explored ways to boost efforts for bolstering economic strategies that attract investments. Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi visited the National Palace of Culture and lauded the cultural exchange between the UAE and Guatemala. The close relations between Sharjah and Guatemalan cities, he said, served as a foundation for sharing expertise and expanding the scope of cultural, economic and investment collaboration. He pointed out that continued cooperation, mutual respect and common interest are the pillars of such relations.

Visit to Costa Rica During the visit to Costa Rica, Sheikh Fahim met with key officials from the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE) and the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER).

The two parties explored opportunities for collaboration and knowledge transfer in sectors of trade, education and tourism. They discussed mechanisms for implementing joint economic projects and ways to bolster the investment environment for both parties by harnessing innovation and technology.

Sheikh Fahim lauded Costa Rica’s plan to protect its oceans and become a carbon-neutral (C-neutral) country. He showed particular interest in projects that promote the blue economy, which considers seas and oceans as key to global economic development. The DGR Chairman stressed that Costa Rica has one of the most successful experiences in this field which inspire countries facing environmental challenges.

For their part, the Costa Rican officials emphasised the importance of exploring collaboration opportunities with the UAE and particularly with Sharjah, noting that the two parties aspire to enhance bilateral cooperation in several development and economic sectors, particularly environment protection, climate change, and regreening apart from the enhancement of tourist attractions.

In March this year, Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi welcomed two high-level delegations from the Central American countries of the Republic of Guatemala and Republic of Costa Rica to explore collaboration prospects in several key sectors including culture, science, technology, and economy.

The two meetings were held at the House of Wisdom, in the presence of Sheikh Majid Al Qasimi, Director of the DGR.

Headed by Anayancy Rodriguez, Minister of Tourism, other members of the Guatemalan delegation included Francisca Moran, Vice Minister of Economy; Ava Arevalo, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Cultural Matters; Shirley Aguilar, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Matters, and Lars Henrik Perez, Ambassador of the Republic of Guatemala to the UAE.

The DGR Chairman also received a Costa Rican delegation headed by Rodolfo Solano Quiros, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, who was accompanied by Francisco J. Chacón Hernández, Ambassador of the Republic of Costa Rica to the UAE.

During the meetings, the parties discussed strengthening economic partnerships and trade between Sharjah and the two Central American countries and stimulating investments in vital sectors including food, tourism, healthcare, and the environment. Sheikh Fahim highlighted how rapid advancements in the emirate’s economy had positioned Sharjah as one of the top destinations for investment, work, and living.

The DGR Chairman emphasised the strong bilateral relations between Sharjah and Costa Rica and Guatemala that serve as a strong base for enhancing economic cooperation through mutual exchange of expertise and collaboration across various industries. He noted that the close bonds of friendship between Sharjah and the two countries had been founded on mutual respect, cooperation, and shared interests.

Rodolfo Quiros expressed his country’s interest in learning more about Sharjah’s cultural and developmental journey rooted in investments to build human capital and provide a nurturing environment to facilitate cross-cultural communication with nations around the world. He also stated his country’s keenness to advance bilateral relations and develop economic and cultural partnerships with Sharjah.

Anayancy Rodriguez lauded Sharjah’s ongoing efforts in strengthening bilateral ties with Guatemala and expressed her deep appreciation of the emirate’s leading role in building bridges of cooperation between cultures worldwide.