TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei hosted the fifth Guatemala Coffee Exchange on Monday (July 8), a significant event to strengthen trade ties between Taiwan and Guatemala. Key figures, including Chang Tzu-hsin (張自信), deputy director-general of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Violeta S. H. Hsu (徐韶慧), director of the Central America Trade Office, and Guatemalan Ambassador Oscar Padilla Lam (巴迪亞), attended the event.
Julio Orozco (歐洛斯柯), Guatemala's Deputy Foreign Minister, highlighted the importance of coffee in trade relations through a pre-recorded video. He stated that coffee is Taiwan's second-largest import from Guatemala, and close trade ties can promote lasting friendship.
Nearly 30 coffee importers participated in the event, selecting 25 types of estate beans from eight Guatemalan regions. Ambassador Padilla emphasized the long-standing relationship between the two nations, dating back 90 years. He noted that the strong relationship is evident in the friendship between our governments and people.
Guatemala has risen to become Taiwan's fourth-largest coffee import source. Padilla noted that Guatemala will continue collaborating with the Central America Trade Office to promote its coffee.
Chang pointed out that the average Taiwanese drinks 112 cups of coffee annually, making Taiwan a global leader in coffee consumption. He added that Guatemalan coffee is enjoyed in convenience stores, high-speed trains, and airplanes, highlighting the ongoing efforts to enhance coffee trade between the two countries.
Hsu mentioned that she led a delegation to Guatemala in March, which included nine companies and 12 industry representatives. "We plan to order 26 containers, or 468 tons, of coffee beans, totaling $2.68 million (about NT$86.77 million), setting new records for volume and value," Hsu said.
The event underscored the mutual benefits of the Taiwan-Guatemala coffee trade, with both nations looking forward to continued collaboration and growth in the sector.
