TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo expressed hope to form a strategic alliance with Taiwan to boost Guatemalan industries during a visit to a bamboo processing and research center operated by the Taiwan Technical Mission on Monday (June 10).
Arevalo said he was interested in technical cooperation projects with Taiwan and the concept of carbon trading, CNA reported. He thanked the Taiwan embassy and the technical mission for their efforts to help Guatemala.
During his visit, Arevalo observed the process of transforming bamboo into different marketable products. He was particularly impressed by the potential applications of bamboo in construction materials, furniture, and fertilizers.
The technical mission said the bamboo processing center aims to help Guatemalan bamboo farmers increase their value, create business opportunities, and introduce the concept of carbon trading. This would allow bamboo farmers to conform with international standards by selling carbon credits from bamboo plantations to global companies.
China recently banned the import of Guatemalan macadamia nuts and coffee beans for nearly three weeks in May. Arevalo speculated that this was due to Guatemala's diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
"As you know, the inauguration of the new Taiwanese government, which Guatemala has ties with, was a few days ago," Arevalo said in a question-and-answer livestream on TikTok. "There could be some dispute with China related to this."