Following efforts by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise to open markets for Belizean products in El Salvador, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of El Salvador has informed the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation (BMDC) that a request for a pest risk analysis (PRA) for four commodities ─ carrot, citrus, onion, and pineapple ─ has been approved.
The PRA is the first step in the exportation of commodities; therefore, Belizean farmers will soon be able to export these products to El Salvador.
Early in 2022, Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, the BMDC, and three lead farmers from different agricultural communities in Belize, visited El Salvador to introduce samples of 10 agricultural commodities grown in Belize. Meetings were held with different Salvadoran importers, and market visits were conducted in El Salvador. Contacts were also established to initiate the negotiations to have Belizean products exported to El Salvador.
In November 2022, the BMDC made a second visit and continued liaising with its counterparts in El Salvador. The corporation, with the assistance of the Embassy of Belize in San Salvador, coordinated meetings with the Salvadoran Ministry of Agriculture and importers to facilitate the PRA.
The opening of another export market for Belizean products is a major step forward for farmers and the entire Belizean economy. Negotiations with Mexico and Guatemala, our northern and western neighbours, continue to ensure markets for Belizean products are assured through diplomacy and bilateral agreements as promised in Plan Belize.
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