PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Jorge Elorza today welcomed a delegation of dignitaries from the country of Guatemala to Providence City Hall for the signing of a Sister City agreement between the City of Providence and Guatemala City. The group led by former President of the Republic of Guatemala and current mayor of the country’s capital city, Álvaro Enrique Arzú, is visiting Rhode Island’s capital city as part of the PVD+GTM Summit. The agreement signals the commencement of collaborative efforts to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two cities through the expansion of exchange in areas related to economic development, commerce, transportation, infrastructure, health, education, culture, and tourism.
“The signing of this agreement marks the beginning of an exciting opportunity for Providence as we start to build bridges to grow our international reputation and explore opportunities for economic growth with a city that already has deeply-rooted ties with us,” said Mayor Elorza. “I thank Mayor Arzú and the delegation of business and government leaders from Guatemala City for their visit and their participation in the PVD+GTM Summit.”
In the coming days, the Guatemala City delegation will be meeting with local business leaders for round table discussions. The group will also tour the Port of Providence and T.F. Green Airport and share their unique perspective on the history and traditions of Guatemala through special lectures at Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. The Summit will conclude Friday and lead into the Artisano Expo, a separate event hosted by Guatemalan officials that will showcase handmade goods offered by businesses based in Guatemala.
About the country Guatemala:
Guatemala is the most populous county in Central America. Its GDP was $63.794 USD billion and the growth rate was 4.25% in 2015, according to the World Bank. The Unites States is Guatemala’s largest trading partner. The Office of the US Trade Representative reports that the US and Guatemala traded $10.0 billion worth of goods last year.