Government
UNDP and KOICA sign a USD$3.4 million Grant Arrangement to Expand and Upgrade Belize’s Statistical System in Supporting the Sustainable Development Goals
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed an arrangement with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to strengthen Belize’s national infrastructure and institutional capacity for data and statistical management. With a total project budget of US$3.4 million, the “Enabling of Belize’s Statistical System” project, which is part of a larger Record of Discussion Arrangement with the Government of Belize, will be implemented from 2024 to 2027 and is a joint initiative involving six (6) Government ministries and five (5) United Nations (UN) agencies with coordination support from the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator.
Government
Belize Attends IDB Boards of Governors Meeting in the Dominican Republic
Hon. Christopher Coye, Minister of State for the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment, led a delegation from the Government of Belize to the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) Boards of Governors Annual Meeting in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from March 8 to 10.
Government
Prime Minister Briceño introduces upcoming fiscal budget
On Friday, March 8th, Prime Minister Honourable Dr. John Briceño presented the 2024-2025 fiscal budget under the theme ‘Staying on Track’. The budget prioritizes job creation, economic stimulus, support for the producing sector, and expansion in access to education. During the budget presentation at the House of Representatives in the Capital City of Belmopan, the Prime Minister also mentioned plans to expand the coverage of the National Health Insurance Programme across the country. During his address, he also cited global factors as the cause of the high cost of living in the country.
Government
Newly elected PUP San Pedro Town Council officially sworn in
On Tuesday, March 12th, the newly elected San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) members were officially sworn in during a short ceremony outside the Ambergris Stadium. The People’s United Party (PUP) town council slate, headed by Mayor Gualberto 'Wally’ Nuñez, took their oaths from town administrator Rene Guzman and Senior Justice of the Peace Patricia Marin.
Government
GCF Approves Grant to Enhance Belize’s Fisheries Sector
The Ministry of Economic Development, Belize’s National Designated Authority to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), is proud to announce that the GCF has approved a Project Preparation Facility (PPF) application for a proposal titled “The Road to Resilient (R2R) fisheries - adopting ecosystem-based adaptation in four CARICOM Member States”.
Government
PACT and the BTB unite forces to boost Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas in Belize
The Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) and the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) are pleased to announce the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at jointly financing the enhancement of tourism products and services within Belize’s protected areas.
Government
Ministry of Sustainable Development and TaiwanICDF Conclude Community Disaster Resilience Training Workshop
The Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management and the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) held the closing ceremony for the Community Disaster Resilience Training Workshop. The ceremony marked the successful completion of the four-day disaster preparedness training in Santa Familia, Cayo District. The training was conducted under the “Flood Warning Capacity Improvement for the Belize River Basin Project”, a collaboration between the governments of Belize and the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Business & Economy
Belize Accesses Funds for Climate Change Project to Strengthen Sugarcane Industry
The Ministry of Economic Development, as the National Designated Authority to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), received approval for Belize’s largest climate change project entitled, “Building the Adaptive Capacity of Sugarcane Farmers in Northern Belize”. The grant totals BZ$77,682,600, with funding of BZ$50 million from GCF and co-financing from project partners at BZ$27.6 million and BZ$30,000 from the Government of Belize.
The project was approved during the GCF 38th Board Meeting being held in Kigali, Rwanda, from March 4 to 7. Eleven project funding proposals were put to the GCF Board for approval, with Belize being the only Caribbean country to table a project.
