PRESS RELEASE
Embassy of India Organizes Specialized Business Seminar on Sister City Concept and One District One Product (ODOP) Initiative in San Pedro Carchá
The Embassy of India in Guatemala City successfully organized a specialized business seminar on the Sister City concept and India's One District One Product (ODOP) initiative in San Pedro Carchá on October 3, 2025. The event was attended by the Honorable Mayor of San Pedro Carchá along with municipal officials and several Mayors from adjacent municipalities in the Alta Verapaz region.
This seminar was conducted in direct response to requests from Mayors who participated in the previous day's business seminar on the Mid-Day Meal Program and India-Guatemala trade relations. The municipal leaders had expressed strong interest in understanding the Sister City framework in greater depth, prompting the Embassy to organize this dedicated session. The platform was also strategically utilized to disseminate comprehensive information about India's innovative One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, which aims to select, brand, and promote one unique product from each district to foster balanced regional development and boost manufacturing and exports.
H.E. Raj Kumar Singh, Ambassador of India to Guatemala, emphasized the transformative potential of the Sister City concept in fostering municipal-level partnerships between India and Guatemala. The Ambassador highlighted how such partnerships create direct channels for cultural exchange, economic cooperation, knowledge sharing, and people-to-people contacts. He noted that Sister City relationships enable municipalities to learn from each other's experiences in governance, urban development, and community welfare programs. The Ambassador expressed enthusiasm about the keen interest shown by the municipalities and assured the Mission's full support in facilitating formal Sister City partnerships with appropriate Indian cities. Regarding the ODOP initiative, the Ambassador explained how this program has successfully transformed local economies across India by identifying and promoting indigenous products with geographical identity. He emphasized that Guatemala, particularly the Alta Verapaz region with its distinctive products like cardamom, coffee, and handicrafts, could draw valuable lessons from India's ODOP experience in branding and marketing regional specialties.
The Honorable Mayor of San Pedro Carchá warmly welcomed the Embassy's initiative and expressed sincere appreciation for organizing this specialized seminar in response to municipal leaders' requests. The Mayor acknowledged that San Pedro Carchá and the broader Alta Verapaz region possess unique products and cultural heritage that could benefit significantly from structured partnerships with Indian municipalities. He emphasized the municipality's readiness to explore formal Sister City relationships that would facilitate technical cooperation, cultural exchanges, and trade promotion. The Mayor particularly noted that learning from India's developmental experiences and innovative programs like ODOP could provide valuable insights for strengthening San Pedro Carchá's local economy and promoting its distinctive products in national and international markets.
Mr. Ramesh Khulbey, Head of Chancery, delivered a comprehensive and engaging presentation covering both the Sister City concept and the ODOP initiative. His presentation drew compelling parallels between Cobán and Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya state in northeastern India, which resonated strongly with the audience. Mr. Khulbey explained the historical development of Sister City partnerships, their operational mechanisms, and tangible benefits including municipal staff exchanges, joint projects in education and health, cultural festivals, business delegations, and technology transfer. He emphasized that successful Sister City relationships are built on shared characteristics, complementary strengths, and sustained commitment from both municipalities.
The presentation highlighted remarkable similarities between Cobán and Shillong, including their mountainous terrain, pleasant climate, rich indigenous cultures, importance as regional commercial hubs, production of unique agricultural products (cardamom in both regions), and challenges related to sustainable development in hilly areas. This comparison was highly appreciated by the attending Mayors, who found the parallels striking and relevant. Mr. Khulbey suggested that these similarities provide an ideal foundation for establishing a Sister City relationship between municipalities in Alta Verapaz and Meghalaya.
The presentation detailed how the ODOP program identifies district-specific products, provides branding and marketing support, facilitates access to technology and finance, creates employment opportunities, and preserves traditional crafts and industries. Mr. Khulbey explained how Alta Verapaz could adapt this model to promote its distinctive products systematically.
The seminar generated exceptional enthusiasm among participating Mayors and municipal officials. Several Mayors expressed strong interest in processing formal proposals for Sister City partnerships. Notably, multiple municipal leaders specifically desired to establish connections with the state government of Meghalaya, recognizing the natural synergies between the regions. The Mayors appreciated the practical examples and expressed confidence that such partnerships could bring tangible benefits to their communities.
The Embassy assured the Mayors that upon receipt of written consent and formal proposals from respective municipalities expressing interest in Sister City partnerships, a comprehensive proposal would be forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi for processing through appropriate channels. The Mission emphasized its commitment to facilitating these partnerships and providing necessary guidance throughout the formalization process.
The Sister City concept holds particular importance for Guatemala, especially for regions like Alta Verapaz and Cobán, for several compelling reasons. Sister City partnerships enable direct municipality-to-municipality cooperation, bypassing bureaucratic complexities and creating immediate channels for practical collaboration. This is especially valuable for regional municipalities seeking international exposure and developmental partnerships. Guatemalan municipalities can benefit from India's vast experience in implementing large-scale welfare programs, sustainable urban development, water management, waste management, digital governance, and community health initiatives. Conversely,
Indian municipalities can learn from Guatemala's practices in preserving indigenous cultures and environmental conservation. Sister City relationships facilitate business networking, trade promotion, and investment opportunities. For Cobán, with its rich natural resources and distinctive products, partnerships with Indian cities could open new markets and attract investment in value-added processing industries.
Both India and Guatemala possess rich indigenous traditions. Sister City partnerships provide platforms for cultural exchange that celebrate and preserve traditional arts, crafts, music, and customs while promoting mutual understanding. Formal Sister City relationships create awareness about partner cities, encouraging tourism flows in both directions. The striking similarities between Cobán and Shillong, for instance, could attract tourists interested in experiencing comparable destinations in different continents. Municipalities can collaborate on specific technical challenges such as sustainable agriculture in hilly terrain, heritage conservation, disaster management, and rural development— areas where both Alta Verapaz and Indian municipalities like those in Meghalaya face similar issues.
The specialized business seminar on Sister City concept and ODOP initiative in San Pedro Carchá marked a significant milestone in deepening India-Guatemala relations at the grassroots level. The enthusiastic response from municipal leaders, particularly their interest in connecting with Meghalaya and processing formal Sister City proposals, demonstrates the strong potential for sustained municipal- level partnerships. The Embassy of India remains committed to facilitating these partnerships and supporting Alta Verapaz municipalities in their developmental aspirations. By organizing targeted seminars in response to specific requests from local leaders, the Mission is fostering practical, people-centric cooperation that creates lasting benefits for communities in both nations.
The positive outcomes of consecutive business seminars in Alta Verapaz underscore the value of regional engagement and the Mission's dedication to expanding bilateral cooperation beyond traditional diplomatic channels. As municipalities move forward with formal proposals, the Embassy looks forward to witnessing the fruition of Sister City partnerships that will enrich both Indian and Guatemalan communities for generations to come.
SAN PEDRO CARCHÁ, ALTA VERAPAZ
