TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo announced a state visit to Taiwan during a press conference on Monday.

Arevalo will meet with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and other top Taiwanese government officials. He highlighted his desire to bolster bilateral cooperation with Taiwan, particularly in technological development. 

He hoped to attract more investments from Taiwan’s high-tech sector, which would help drive tangible progress in Guatemala’s national development.

Arevalo will be accompanied by Minister of Economy Gabriela Garcia-Quinn, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Ramiro Martinez, and other officials. 

A group of 28 Guatemalan university students and faculty members began a three-week intensive training course earlier this month under the Semiconductor Vocational Training Program launched by Taiwan and Guatemala in April. The students will become seed instructors for Guatemala’s semiconductor industry.

Arevalo also said that Guatemala will host a major conference in August, inviting Taiwanese tech leaders and entrepreneurs to engage with Guatemalan officials and industry players, per CNA. The goal is to advance a bilateral agenda that allows Taiwan’s tech sector to establish a presence in Guatemala, achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, he said.

He will later travel to Japan to attend the Osaka World Expo and meet with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to celebrate the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Arevalo said the purpose of his trip is to advance relations with Taiwan and Japan.