Opening the Swedish market for Guatemalan producers.

Entering the Swedish market with products such as coffee, cocoa, or cardamom is not a matter of potential, but of strategy.

In this context, seven producer organizations from Guatemala, partners in the IMOX program, participated in an exchange with Open Trade Gate Sweden (OTGS), an initiative of the Swedish government that facilitates companies’ access to its market. The meeting took place in Antigua Guatemala and was promoted by We Effect as part of its efforts to connect rural organizations with international commercial opportunities.

These organizations have a solid track record in international markets, including exports to the United States and Europe, as well as certifications, traceability systems, and advanced production capacities. This starting point made it possible to focus the dialogue not on initial market entry, but on opening new opportunities in high-value markets such as Sweden.

During the exchange, OTGS presented concrete tools to facilitate access to the Swedish market, including information on regulatory requirements, market studies, technical support programs, and participation in international trade fairs.

It was also highlighted that Guatemala has a competitive supply in value chains such as coffee, cocoa, and cardamom, with strong potential to position itself in Sweden—particularly due to attributes valued in that market, such as organic production, traceability, sustainability, and the inclusion of women in value chains.

In this regard, one of the key messages was the importance of strengthening collective positioning, moving toward a sector-wide and country-level projection, beyond individual efforts.

The meeting also underscored the value of building clear narratives around the origin, quality, and social impact of products. In particular, it emphasized the importance of making visible the role of women in production, not only as a matter of equity, but as a differentiating factor in international markets.

The IMOX program, implemented by We Effect and funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Guatemala, has played a key role in facilitating these connections by articulating efforts among producer organizations, market actors, and international platforms such as OTGS.

This engagement opens a concrete pathway for Guatemalan producer organizations to move toward accessing the Swedish market, diversifying their commercial destinations and strengthening their positioning in high-value markets.