In other news, Beltraide officially launched its Blue Economy Investment Promotion Strategy and Action Plan today. It's a collaboration with the Ministry of the Blue Economy and the IDB. The plan aims to sustainably use Belize's marine resources for investment and growth, in order to allow the country to be positioned as a global leader in blue economy sectors.
We learned more at the launch.
Ishmael Quiroz, Executive Director, Beltraide
"Economic diversification is one of the fundamental concerns for every country and in particular for a country like Belize that traditionally has been heavily dependent on tourism and agriculture and especially post covid, we need to diversify the economic activities that we engage in. Now, we're already ahead of the game in terms of, we're already a blue economy pioneer. There's a lot of water, sea based activities that we're involved in. But it certainly goes beyond fishing, it does beyond shrimp farming, it goes beyond the tourism that's focused around our island product. And so Beltraide is the front line for investment promotion activities and interactions and so the role that we play is really guiding the investors who we interact with towards what else is on offer."
Felicia Cruz, Dir. of Blue Economy, Ministry of Blue Economy
"Our Ministry of Blue Economy has been playing a very pivotal role in terms of providing feedback, necessary feedback relating to our key priority sectors that have contributed to the socio-economic growth and well being of our coastal communities. Our Ministry aims to continue its collaboration and partnership with entities like Beltraide, the Ministry of Investment and other partners, critical players that will help to navigate and advance these initiatives in ensuring that we have the financial direct investments that are needed to propel these sectors forward and really for the people to benefit greater for this development."
Rocio Medina Bolivar, IDB Country Manager, Belize
"The IDB is already working in several area, working on the Blue Economy. We have technical assistance and working also on an investment program focused on Blue Economy particularly. But for the preparation of this strategy we provided technical assistance and provide for instance an engagement with key stakeholders in order to see, because this is a very comprehensive and holistic strategy so we work in identifying the key sectors and priorities and confirm where Belize has the strengths on the different areas, or do an analysis gap, also strengthening technical assistance to Beltraide to actually how to address and bring foreign investment for this key sector for the economy."
|
