The Importance of the Textile Industry in Guatemala
Guatemala is a Central American country that is mainly known for producing goods like avocados, chocolate, and coffee. With a rich history stemming from the country’s Mayan heritage, Guatemalans also create colorful textiles using brightly colored yarn that is woven into many different types of clothing. With clothing traditions like this, it’s no surprise to learn that Guatemala also has a bustling textile industry. Here’s how important the textile industry is to the country:
Guatemala’s industry sector contributes to over 24% of the country’s GDP, with the textile industry estimated to make up nearly 9% of the GDP itself.
In a country where 59% of the population lives below the poverty line, the textile industry in Guatemala provides over 100,000 jobs for Guatemalans.
Almost 40% of Guatemala’s trade is with the U.S., making it Guatemala’s largest trade partner. Nearly 90% of textiles exported from Guatemala go to the United States, with Guatemala looking to continue to increase its textile production and bolster the relationship between the two countries.
Depending on the area, textile jobs may be the only work available, with most of the textile industry firms being based around Guatemala City. This is also where La Limonada is located, which is the largest urban slum in Central America with over 60,000 Guatemalans living there.
While Guatemala is a country struggling severely with poverty, the textile industry is one of the bright spots that give Guatemalans the opportunity to earn a living. Because of this, we at Hope Renewed International (HRI) are excited to announce that we are fully funded to move forward with our Dorothy S. Farnet Centro de Costura (DSF Sewing Center) which will offer training, education, and production of retail apparel and home goods to women to help them gain valuable skills needed to find work in the textile industry.
The DSF Sewing Center will be housed in our Hope Center in La Limonada, which will also include a water filtration system and retail Water Store where residents can access clean water. However, we still need more help from people like you to make the Hope Center a reality. Find out how you can help us make a difference today!