economy Archives - Sugarcane Industry

8 September, 2022

Economic Development Strategy for Fishing and Gastronomic Tourism

Capacitaciones servicio al cliente por Fundazucar

In 2021, the Economic Development Strategy for Fishing and Gastronomic Tourism on the South of Guatemala was launched, which is carried out in partnership between the Sugar Foundation -Fundazucar-, the Ministry of Economy -Mineco- Ministry of National Defense – Mindef-, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food -MAGA- and six municipalities.

The strategy aims to recover and generate new sources of income for fishermen and workers in the tourism sector in the municipalities of the beach area of the South of Guatemala, as well as to generate sources of employment.

Among the actions carried out within the framework of this strategy are training such as:

Business and fishing strengthening given by Mindef and Mineco.
Gastronomic diversification: good manufacturing practices and marketing of the finished product taught by Fundazucar to 269 chefs and cooks from hotels and restaurants.
Excellence in customer service by Fundazucar to 253 hotel and restaurant employees.
Seafood Cuisine: innovative recipes based on seafood taught by Intecap with scholarships granted by Fundazucar to 231 chefs and cooks from hotels and restaurants.

Once the training has been completed, Fundazucar focuses on the formulation of tourism development plans in conjunction with community members and local authorities. In addition, it will support the dissemination of tourist services in the participating municipalities and the creation of gastronomic festivals.

3 December, 20213 December, 2021

The start of the Zafra season contributes to the reactivation of the economy

Guatemala Zafra season contributes to the reactivation of the economy

The start of the Zafra contributes to the reactivation of the economy. The activities of the Guatemalan Sugar Industry generates more than 54 thousand direct jobs and 270 thousand indirect ones.

The Guatemalan Sugar Industry is an economic engine for the country since it generates an economic footprint of more than US$ 1,188 million each year, which reaches 90% of the country’s municipalities and each year generates more than 54 thousand direct jobs and distribute more than US$ 402 million in wages and salaries.

In addition, the Sugar Industry hires more than 6,325 supplier companies (large, medium, and small) of products and services, who also become employers and multiply the opportunities for the population.

The 2021-2022 Zafra will take place in challenging conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the Guatemalan Sugar Industry continues with strict biosecurity measures both in the field and in the factory.

“The Zafra is the harvest season for sugarcane and sugar production, which takes place from November to May. Our commitment every year is to improve our processes to be more and more efficient and develop our operation in a responsible way with our neighbors”, commented Luis Miguel Paiz, General Manager of the Guatemalan Sugar Producers Association -Asazgua-.

Technology, the basis of efficiency

In the Guatemalan Sugar Industry, systems and processes have been implemented to optimize the use of water for the irrigation of sugarcane; likewise, the sugar mills have implemented systems for the reuse of water and thus reduce the use of this resource. It is important to note that the sugar cane obtains from the rain about 72% of the water it needs to grow.

Research and development is a fundamental pillar for the Guatemalan Sugar Industry, it has contributed to improve efficiency and competitiveness each harvest. The development of varieties of sugar cane is one of the great contributions of the research center, and through the natural crossing of plants, 33 varieties of Guatemalan sugar cane have been developed that are more productive, resistant to pests and climate change.

26 August, 202117 September, 2021

Chefs from seaside village in Guatemala are trained to boost economy and tourism

Chefs from Monterrico are trained for the economic reactivation of the tourist area

Monterrico, a seaside village located 148 kilometers (92 miles) South from Guatemala City, is located on the Pacific Ocean coast of Guatemala, and is popular with national and foreign tourists for its volcanic sand beaches and the annual influx of sea turtles.

This village is one of four that the Guatemalan Sugar Industry supports to boost economy and tourism with the the diplomaed: Gastronomic Diversification through Fundazucar, in alliance with the Ministry of Economy -Mineco- and the Municipality of Taxisco, Santa Rosa.

The training was completed by 37 chefs and cooks from 10 hotels and 6 restaurants in the town who completed 20 hours of theoretical-practical training, where they learned innovative recipes based on seafood from the region.

Chefs and cooks will continue their training at the Technical Institute for Training and Productivity -Intecap- with a scholarship for the Diplomaed “Sea Cuisine” granted by the Sugar Foundation as part of the inter-institutional alliance, which promotes a strategy for the promotion local economic.

The objective of the training program is to support economic reactivation by offering added value to tourists through the processing and transformation of products from artisanal fishing, as well as to acquire knowledge in good manufacturing practices, cold chain management and marketing of the finished product.