Russia, Guatemala to Build-up Commerce
Russia and Guatemala expressed the decision to strengthen bilateral relations, especially in the fields of trade and investments Monday, during the visit to Guatemala by Russian Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Serguei Kislayak.

“We have scheduled signing a promotion and protection agreement, with the possibility that Russian entrepreneurs will come here to invest,” Kislayak said.

He stated that commercial exchange is quite low, 40 million dollars a year, and the Russian government considers it could be much greater than that.

Guatemalan Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Fernando Andrade said the strengthening of relations could begin now, and the Guatemalan government is particularly interested in strengthening its sugar industry.

Trade and cooperation in fields such as science and mining were also discussed, informed Guatemalan Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Martha Altoaguirre.

Security and the struggle against drug-trafficking and political aspects were other topics discussed.

On his first day in Guatemala, Kislayak was received at the Guatemalan Congress where he met Congress President Jorge Mendez Herburger.