Within the framework of National Meeting of Entrepreneurs (Enade) 2025, held this Thursday, representatives of various public and private sectors agreed to highlight the strengths that Guatemala has to attract foreign direct investment (FDI).
Specific actions must be carried out, including: strengthening infrastructure; the development of talent and human resources; trade facilitation; digitalization, and legal certainty, in order to generate more jobs, increase investment flows and double exports.
José Miguel Torrebiarte, president of the Foundation for the Development of Guatemala (Fundesa), declared in his inaugural speech that this Enade, as in previous years, follows up on the Guatemala No Se Detiene (GNSD) agenda, with the objective of generating 2.5 million jobs, attracting more foreign direct investmentdouble exports and reach a GDP per capita of US$14,500 by 2032.
He explained that the GNSD has promoted concrete actions to turn the country into an increasingly attractive and competitive investment destination, which is reflected today in strategies, results and, above all, in new and better opportunities for Guatemalans.
Torrebiarte recalled that Guatemala has maintained its macroeconomic stability, with growth expected for 2025 of between 3.8% and 4%, higher than the Latin American average.
He added that, last year, the country captured a total of close to US$1.7 billion in FDI, which reflects sustained growth in the last four years and positions Guatemala as one of the most dynamic destinations for investment in the region.
He stressed that these efforts have been positively valued by rating agencies such as Fitch Ratings, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s. With this, the country is approaching the goal of achieving international investment grade, an important milestone that will further strengthen the confidence of global capitals, facilitate access to more competitive financing and improve Guatemala’s image as a reliable destination for investment and the generation of qualified employment.
It is urgent to improve infrastructure to attract investment
Fanny D. Estrada, director of the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport), emphasized that in this Enade there is the opportunity to carry out a joint review of what has been done well and the challenges that still persist, which is why she considered the issue of foreign direct investment (FDI) timely and current.
He declared that, as an export sector, they are well aware of the potential that Guatemala has and that what has been achieved so far can be transformed into concrete actions.
In the reviews regarding production, export and investment, as well as participation in the event, a great difference is perceived with respect to the past, especially for the services and technology sector.
Estrada highlighted that there are companies established in Guatemala in the technology, manufacturing and agriculture sectors, and that the event makes visible the possibility of working together towards the future. He assured that there is a lot to contribute between the public and private sectors.
Regarding one of the keys to improving investment attraction, he pointed out that it is necessary to improve infrastructure, a need that already has national consensus, given that today we live in a more accelerated world and Guatemala has a strategic geographical location with respect to the United States.
He added that human talent and logistics also need to be improved.
Banguat projects FDI record with US$1,865 million in 2025
During the Enade activity, Álvaro González Ricci, president of the Bank of Guatemala (Banguat), provided updated figures on foreign direct investment (FDI). In the first half of 2025, US$867.3 million were raised, which represents an increase of 11% compared to 2024.
The projection is that the figure will exceed what was expected at the end of the year, since some short-term indicators are showing positive behavior.
González Ricci pointed out that the indicator is encouraging despite the uncertainty in the United States, mainly due to its tariff and immigration policy, and stated that Guatemala has shown resilience and better performance compared to other countries.
“Guatemala is resilient in the face of these situations and we hope for a good close to 2025. It is a good base to start 2026,” he added.
He also reiterated the importance of executing the budget, especially in capital assets such as highways, rural roads, ports and airports.
For this year, an FDI closure of US$1,865 million is projected, and for 2026, US$2,050 million.
Korean businessmen see FTA and legal certainty as key to investing
David Juárez, president of the Guatemalan Korean Chamber of Commerce, assured that to boost investment in the country it is essential to have legal certainty, which allows capital to be mobilized. He added that, in the case of Korean businessmen, a Free Trade Agreement would be ideal.
As a second point, he highlighted the need to improve road infrastructure, since the poor state of the current network increases logistics costs.