Guatemala and Taiwan are talking up closer ties, a rare piece of good news for Taiwan as its list of diplomatic allies keeps shrinking.

• Guatemala's ambassador in Taipei said the two countries will mark 92 years of formal relations in December, with links now spanning trade, defense and technology.
• Guatemala keeps backing Taiwan's bid to join international bodies, while Taiwan is helping Guatemala get into the chip supply chain through training and scholarships.
• Guatemala's economy looks steady: exports hit $15.6 billion last year, inflation is running under 3%, and growth is forecast near 4%.
• Their free trade deal is now 20 years old, and Guatemala has become Taiwan's biggest sugar supplier and fourth-largest coffee supplier.
• Taiwan is pushing its own companies to use Guatemala as a base for reaching the wider American market.

Outlook: Expect more chip-training and investment deals as Guatemala tries to move up from farm exports, with Taiwan keen to keep one of its few remaining allies close.