Ministry of Foreign Trade

Belmopan - 26 October, 2005.

The Guatemalan Ministry of Economy and the Chamber of Commerce of Guatemala, today, hosted a workshop entitled “How to do Business with Belize”. This forms part of the objectives of the Enhancing Commercial Linkages project headed by the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry which took place in Guatemala City, on August 25th, 2005.

The fundamental objective of the workshop was to promote the investment and business opportunities within Belize and Belize as the gateway to the Caribbean.

Presentations focused on a diversity of themes such as: the commercial and economic profile of Belize, investment and joint venture opportunities, customs procedures for importation into Belize, fresh or frozen commercialization of products, food products or medicines and the current status of the Partial Scope Trade Agreement.

The workshop engrossed the participation of more than 100 Guatemalan businessmen that have interest in or are presently conducting business with Belize.

The workshop panelists were comprised of various representatives from the following Belizean government institutions: Mr. Derek Nisbet - BELTRAIDE, Dr. Victor Gongora - BAHA, Mr. Darrel Smith - the Department of Customs of Belize, and Mrs. Sharon Sanchez Anderson - the Ministry of Health of Belize. Other panelists included representatives from the Guatemalan Ministry of Economy and the Language Exchange Project.

The workshop was inaugurated by Guatemala’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Enrique Lacs, and representatives of the Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce and the Guatemalan Ministry of Economy.

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Alyssa Noble
Phone: 227-3148 and Fax: 227-4984
E-mail: project@belize.org or bcci@btl.net.
Website: http://www.belguatrade.com