More than 100 specialists from Latin America and the Caribbean discussed technological innovations in the region's sugar industry, as part of the four-day Sugar Industry Congress which began in Guatemala City Tuesday.

The economic panorama of the region and the sugar industry's perspectives in international markets were to be discussed during the meeting, with a special emphasis on technological innovations concerning sugar biotransformation into ethanol biofuel, the Congress organizing committee said.

The sugar industry represents 24 percent of Guatemala's agricultural production and around 14 percent of its exports, and it is one of the most important economic sectors for Latin America and the Caribbean, Guatemalan Vice President Rafael Espada said at the inauguration of the summit.

The meeting was organized by the Sugar Industry Association of Guatemala, with experts from Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, United States, Guatemala, Honduras and Dominican Republic participating.