Guatemala — Overview & CTH Presence

Country Profile

Guatemala is Central America's largest economy by GDP and population (~18 million). CTH engagement consists of CLP cohorts only, with no REIN Hub established. Despite this, Guatemala presents the most diverse cleantech opportunity set of the three Central American countries in the Origo taxonomy: world-leading cardamom exports, highland specialty coffee, the Maya Biosphere Reserve (Petén), and the region's strongest geothermal energy capacity after Costa Rica.

Economy and Climate Context

Guatemala's economy is diversified across agriculture (10% of GDP but 30% of employment), remittances (~18% of GDP), manufacturing, and services. Coffee from highland regions (Huehuetenango, Antigua, Cobán) is a major export commodity and the primary EUDR exposure. Guatemala is the world's largest cardamom exporter — a commodity NOT on the EUDR list but economically significant. The Petén department contains the Maya Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest contiguous forest areas in Mesoamerica, under severe deforestation pressure.

CTH Engagement Summary

CTH's Guatemala footprint includes CLP cohort participation since 2023. Startups have focused on geothermal energy applications, coffee traceability, and Maya forest conservation technologies. Guatemala has the largest untapped cleantech potential of the three Central American countries due to its market size, geothermal resources, and forest conservation needs. A REIN Hub for Guatemala could serve as a Central American anchor node.

EUDR Exposure

Guatemala has significant EUDR exposure across four commodities. Highland coffee (Huehuetenango, Antigua Guatemala, Cobán) is the highest-exposure commodity, with EU as a major destination market. Cacao production in Alta Verapaz represents moderate exposure. Wood from Petén and other forested departments faces EUDR requirements, particularly timber from community forest concessions in the Maya Biosphere Reserve's multiple-use zone. Rubber production is minor but present. Notably, cardamom — Guatemala's other major agricultural export — is not subject to EUDR.

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  "country": "guatemala",
  "iso_code": "GT",
  "cth_clp": true,
  "cth_rein": false,
  "gf_taxonomy": false,
  "ndc_year": 2021,
  "eudr_commodities": ["coffee", "cacao", "wood", "rubber"],
  "schema_version": "1.1"
}