Guatemala

• Available Market Research
• Best Prospects in the ICT Market
• Chambers of Commerce
• Channels of Distribution
  • Agents / Distributors
    • Hardware
    • Software
    • Telecommunications
  • Business to Business (B2B)
    • Banks
    • Newspapers
    • US Subsidiaries
  • E-Commerce
    • Internet Service Providers
  • Educational
  • Governmental
  • Telecommunications Systems Operators
  • VARs, ISVs, Resellers and Systems Integrators
    • Systems Integrators
• Directories and Databases
• Duties, Tariffs & Taxes
• General Country Information
• Intellectual Property Rights
• Market Research
• Technical Standards
• Trade Associations
• Trade Publications
• Trade Shows, Exhibitions and Seminars
• Trade Statistics
• User Groups
• E-Mail Links to the Respective Industry Specialist(s)

Available Market Research

Industry Sector Analyses are industry specific reports prepared either by US Commercial Service Staff or local market research contractors.  Typical reports include:

• A Market Overview
• Market Highlights and Best prospects
• Statistical Data
• Best Sales Prospects
• Competitive Analysis
• End-User Analysis
• Market Access (includes information on duties, taxes, standards etc.)
• Trade Promotion Opportunities
• Trade Publications
• Market Research Companies
• Trade Associations
• Agents, Distributors and Manufacturers

International Marketing Insights (IMI) contain industry specific information and are short, concise reports.

For a listing of available ISAs and / or IMIs, please click here.

This information is available free of charge to all US companies. 

Welcome to the U.S. Commercial Service

The U.S. Department of Commerce is represented worldwide by the Commercial Service.  The Commercial Service supports U.S. commercial interests and assists American businesses in their export marketing efforts.

Our offices offer business counseling and a wide range of tailored services to assist American firms to identify business opportunities throughout the world. Our offices foreign companies who wish to partner with American companies in areas of distribution of American products, joint ventures, and licensing. While some services are fee-based, many are provided free of charge. We welcome you to our site and encourage you to visit other websites that are likely to be of interest to you.  To find the country of interest, please visit: http://www.buyusa.gov/home/export.html. 

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Best Prospects in the ICT Market

For further information about the Guatemalan market, please consult the Country Commercial Guide.

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Chambers of Commerce

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Channels of Distribution

For further information of the definitions of the channels of distribution, please click here. The following are known ICT sales channels.   They may or may not be available in all markets.

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Agents / Distributors

Hardware

Software

Telecommunications

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Business to Business (B2B)

Banks

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Newspapers

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US Subsidiaries

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E-Commerce

Internet Service Providers

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Educational

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Governmental

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Telecommunications Systems Operators

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VARs, ISVs, Resellers and Systems Integrators

System Integrators

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Directories and Databases

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Duties, Tariffs & Taxes

Although a Free Trade Agreement is in negotiation, duty is still charged.  

For Tariffs and Taxes on Computer Hardware and Software, please visit: http://web.ita.doc.gov/.

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General Country Information

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Intellectual Property Rights

Land invasions by squatters are increasingly common in rural areas.  It can be difficult to obtain and enforce eviction notices, as land title is often clouded and the police tend to avoid actions against squatters that could provoke violence.
 
Mortgages are available for both home and business purchasers, though in practice, few banks offer loans for residential real estate for longer than five-year terms. 
 
The legal system is accessible to foreigners and does not discriminate on the surface.  However, in practice, it favors a "home team" accustomed to maneuvering a case through the process, and corruption is common.  The need for foreign investors to secure reliable local counsel cannot be stressed enough. 
 
Regarding intellectual property rights (IPR), Guatemala belongs to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).  It is also a signatory to the Paris Convention, Bern Convention, Rome Convention, Phonograms Convention, and the Nairobi Treaty.  Guatemala has ratified the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT).
 
The Guatemalan Congress passed legislation in August 2000 to increase the protection afforded to the holders of intellectual property rights.  As part of GOG's efforts to improve enforcement and to implement 2000 intellectual property rights legislation, the Attorney General appointed a special prosecutor devoted to IPR violations in May 2001.  Legislation that weakened patent coverage and eliminated data protection for information submitted in support of commercial applications for pharmaceutical products was briefly in force in early 2003, but it was subsequently overturned in April.  Piracy rates for software applications dropped from 73% in 2001 to 61% in 2002, but high piracy rates remain an ongoing concern. 

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Market Research

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Technical Standards

None Noted

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Trade Associations

None Noted

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Trade Publications

None Noted

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Trade Shows, Exhibitions and Seminars

Additional information on how to prepare for and select an international trade show can be found at http://www.exportmichigan.biz/

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Telecommunications Equipment

http://www.intracen.org/

User Groups

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E-Mail Links to the Respective Industry Specialist(s)

Ana Polanco, Commercial Specialist

Phone: (502) 331-1541 Ext.: 4258

Fax: (502) 331-7373

Email: Ana.Polanco@mail.doc.gov

Industries: Agricultural Chemicals, Agricultural Machinery & Eq., Agricultural Services, Air Conditioning/Refrigeration Eq., Architectural/Constr./Engineering SVC, Building Products, Construction Eq., Dental Eq., Drugs/Pharmaceuticals, Electrical Power Systems, Footwear, General Industrial Eq./Supplies, Industrial Chemicals, Insurance Services, Investment Services, Machine Tools/Metalworking Eq., Materials Handling Machinery, Medical Eq., Mining Industry Eq., Oil/Gas Field Machinery, Oil/Gas/Mineral Prod/Explor Serv., Plastics Materials/Resins, Process Controls - Industrial, Textile Fabrics, Textile Machinery/Eq., Textile Products - Made-Up, Veterinary Medicine Eq./Supplies, Yarns

Claudia Toaspern, Administrative Assistant

Phone: (502) 331-1541 Ext.: 4259

Fax: (502) 331-7373

Email: Claudia.Toaspern@mail.doc.gov

Industries: Aircraft/Aircraft Parts, Airport/Ground Support Eq., Automobile/Light Truck/Vans, Automotive Parts/Services Eq., Books/Periodicals, Business Eq. (Non-Computer), Computer Services, Computer Software, Computers/Peripherals, Consumer Electronics, Education/Training Services, Electronic Commerce, Electronic Components, Electronics Industry Prod/Test Eq., Information Services, Laboratory Scientific Instruments, Pollution Control Eq., Pumps/Valves/Compressors, Renewable Energy Eq., Security/Safety Eq., Sporting Goods/Recreational Eq., Telecommunications Eq., Telecommunications Services, Toys/Games, Trucks/Trailers/Buses, Water Resources Eq./Services

OFFICE INFORMATION

STREET ADDRESS

American Embassy

7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Unit 3306

Zone 10 Guatemala City, Guatemala

U.S. MAILING ADDRESS

American Embassy - Guatemala City

APO: AA 34024

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Revised: December 23, 2008

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