XXI Congreso Industrial 2026: Guatemala Industry Prepares for a Changing Global Economy
XXI Congreso Industrial 2026 will bring Guatemala’s business, academic and public sectors together to address AI, investment, energy and competitiveness.
The XXI Congreso Industrial 2026 will take place on September 11 at the Hotel Westin Camino Real, bringing together business leaders, decision-makers, academia and the public sector to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping Guatemala’s industrial competitiveness.
Organized by the Guatemala Chamber of Industry (CIG), the event will focus on strengthening the sector’s resilience amid the reconfiguration of global supply chains, technological acceleration, artificial intelligence, energy challenges and geopolitical changes.
A Strategic Agenda for Guatemala’s Industrial Sector
The congress will feature 10 simultaneous thematic modules designed to analyze the trends transforming industry and identify solutions to strengthen Guatemala’s competitiveness.
The event comes after Guatemala surpassed US$1.881 billion in foreign direct investment last year, a figure presented by CIG as a sign of international confidence in the country, while also highlighting the need to accelerate progress in infrastructure, energy, talent and legal certainty.
“Last year we surpassed US$1.881 billion in Foreign Direct Investment. These figures fill us with optimism, but they also demand that we continue working. FDI is a reflection of the confidence the world is placing in Guatemala, and the Industrial Congress is the space where we will discuss how to take advantage of this moment to continue growing,” said Enrique Font, president of CIG.
The central premise of the event is that Guatemalan industry must increase its ability to adapt to an international environment in which the rules have changed. In this context, resilience is presented as the capacity to adjust, respond and transform in order to sustain growth.
AI, Energy, Investment and Talent Take Center Stage
The congress will address a broad range of topics, including industrialization and artificial intelligence, family businesses, energy and electricity transmission, logistics infrastructure and competitiveness, investment and competitiveness, marketing, innovation, branding and experience, business ethics and reputation, industrial sustainability, talent and human capital succession, and geoeconomics.
The industrialization and artificial intelligence module will examine new models driven by technology, innovation and sustainable infrastructure.
The session focused on family businesses will explore continuity, professionalization and generational transition, recognizing the role these companies play in Guatemala’s economy.
Meanwhile, discussions on energy and electricity transmission will examine their role as enablers of a modern, efficient and sustainable industrial sector.
The logistics infrastructure and competitiveness module will focus on the design and implementation of modern, resilient and future-oriented infrastructure.
Another area of discussion will examine the factors influencing foreign direct investment, including public policies, regulatory simplification and legal stability.
Sustainability will also be addressed as a component of industrial competitiveness and access to international markets.
A Platform for Business Connections and Talent
Beyond the thematic discussions, the event will feature panels, success stories and content focused on knowledge-based decision-making.
The agenda will also create opportunities for interaction between companies, the public sector, academia and international representatives.
One of these spaces will be the Industry Suppliers Fair, where companies will be able to showcase products and services, generate business opportunities and establish relationships with strategic partners.
The congress will also feature Industria Emplea, a virtual talent and employment event designed to connect companies with qualified candidates.
Stephanie Melville, CIG vice president and president of the Organizing Committee for the XXI Industrial Congress, explained that the agenda was built around the challenges companies currently face in maintaining their competitiveness.
“It is a moment of opportunities, but also of great challenges. When we began planning this Congress, we asked ourselves: What do companies need to do today to remain competitive in an environment that is changing increasingly quickly? And that question shaped the entire agenda for this year. Because we live in a world where the rules of competitiveness are being rewritten,” she said.
Awards Will Close the XXI Congreso Industrial 2026
The congress will conclude with a ceremony recognizing companies and leaders within Guatemala’s industrial ecosystem.
The event will present the 2026 Sustainable Industries Award and the Distinguished Industrialist Award, honoring contributions from businesses and leaders in the country’s industrial sector.
Registration to attend the XXI Congreso Industrial 2026 is free and is available through the official Congress Industrial 2026 website.
