Juan Niemann, Renowned apparel and textile entrepreneur receives the Joe Habie Nigrin Award
The businessman recently received the José Habie Nigrín award, given by the board of directors of the Apparel and Textile Industry Association of Guatemala (Vestex), during the sector’s largest regional fair, which brings together the entire supply chain at the Apparel Sourcing Show, an event that took place from May 21 to 23 of this year, achieving a record number of visitors that exceeded five thousand during the three days.
JUAN NIEMANN, leader of companies in the textile, plastics, leather, food, apparel, electric power, real estate, among others.
Prominent Guatemalan businessman
Juan Niemann Enge, president of JC Niemann, stands out not only for his business skills, but also for his humility and spirit of service, qualities that drive him to create new business ideas, which combined with his leadership and his tireless promotion of education in Guatemala, are part of the essence that characterize him.
One of his great mentors was his father, Juan Niemann Alhers, founder of JC Niemann, a company that for more than 70 years has specialized in the sale of products for different industries, including apparel and textiles, where he became involved in the family business at a very young age, with the vision of seeking new opportunities that would achieve a multiplying reach.
For more than seven decades, JC Niemann has consolidated operations in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. In addition, Juan Niemann Enge has created other companies in other sectors, which are sources of employment for hundreds of people who are part of the values he promotes and that have led him to success.
Academia and values
Juan Niemann Enge is a graduate of the American School of Guatemala and later completed advanced studies in chemical engineering at Whittier College, California, where he also obtained a master’s degree. He received a scholarship from the International Institute of Education at several universities in the United States of America and graduated in banking administration in Hamburg, Germany.
In his career as a professional he has held several key positions, for example, he has been director of
of the Chamber of Commerce and of the Apparel and Textile Commission of the Guatemalan Exporters Association -Agexport-. He also served as Honorary President and was one of the founders of Fundación Génesis Empresarial. In addition, he was an officer and President of the Rotary Club of Guatemala and the Technological Foundation.
His dedication to education and development is evidenced by an extensive track record within the Group.
Educativo Del Valle. He has been a member of the Universidad del Valle Foundation -UVG- of Guatemala since 1992, having chaired its Board of Trustees between 2012 and 2014.
He managed to open an endowment fund for the operation of the Universidad Del Valle de Guatemala Foundation -FUVG- and has collaborated in multiple projects of the Group, seeking to offer talented young people access to quality education. In 2016, UVG awarded him an Honorary Doctorate in Education in recognition of his great work.
Proud to be part of a dynamic sector During his acceptance speech for the Joe Habie Nigrin Award to great entrepreneurs and visionaries of the industry, Niemann described the apparel sector and
textiles as an important source of jobs for thousands of Guatemalans.
“The industry allows the workforce to have a decent job and can bring home shelter, food, health and education,” he said during his speech.
The renowned businessman stated that Guatemala is the country of opportunities and the apparel and textile cluster has a great future, given that it has remained as the country’s main export sector.
“The sector has shown great dynamism and innovation, adapting to the needs of a changing market, agile and complying with all international standards. More than 300 companies make up this cluster in the supply chain. The country’s extraordinary economic stability makes Guatemala one of the most important countries for foreign investment,” concluded Niemann.
