The Guatemalan Exporters Association, AGEXPORT, and the British Embassy are implementing the project “Business and Municipal Leadership for COVID-19 Emergency and Economic Reactivation”. This project develops and implements a strategy to prevent the spread of the virus and mitigate the risk of infection, ensuring the health of people and allowing the continuity and reactivation of economic activities at a municipal level.
The Ambassador visited the municipalities of Sumpango, in Sacatepéquez, and Parramos, in Chimaltenango, to deliver a donation of supplies to the municipal markets. Representatives of AGEXPORT, export companies, municipal authorities, vendors and local health representatives also participated in the event.
Following the protocols set out in the “Guidance of recommendations for COVID-19 prevention in markets and public squares” of the Guatemalan Government, gel hydro-alcoholic, facemasks, cleaning supplies, thermometers and other equipment were given to the residents of the area so that they could continue with their economic activities while complying with all biosecurity protocols.
The project, worth more than Q500,000 and being implemented over a period of six months, also includes other actions delivered jointly with the municipalities and with export companies, and include:
- Training and implementation of biosecurity protocols to municipal staff, vendors in markets and public squares.
- Local communication strategies to inform and educate inhabitants and small businesses in the municipalities on how to prevent COVID-19 through printed protocols.
- Implementation of an action and sanitation plan that allows the strengthening of municipal and community capacities in COVID-19 issues and the safe operation of economic activities.
- Donation of supplies for sanitation and service personnel to ensure that biosafety protocols are correctly implemented in the markets.
The British Ambassador in Guatemala, Nick Whittingham, said:
At a municipal level, it is vital to support producers, exporters and vendors by providing them with clear protocols that guarantees their health and safety, complying with the government measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, and that allows them to continue their economic activities.
These donations represent a starting point for all the donations that will be delivered in other municipalities, which are:
- Santiago, Sacatepéquez
- Chimaltenango, Chimaltenango
- San José Pinula, Guatemala
- Jutiapa, Jutiapa
- San Cristóbal Verapaz, Alta Verapaz
- San Pedro Sacatepéquez, San Marcos
- San Marcos, San Marcos
- Sanarate, El Progreso
