Belize City and Houston sign agreement

This evening a trade agreement was signed between the cities of Houston and Belize. Attending the ceremony at City Hall was a large delegation from Houston’s business sector and TriBCounty Black Chamber of Commerce. News Five’s Jacqueline Woods spoke with Belize City Mayor David Fonseca and Council member Ronald Green, who signed on behalf of Houston’s Mayor.

Ronald Green, Houston City Council Member
?Whenever we have the opportunity to get our goods and services out of the city and expose the world to what we?re doing in Houston, that?s a great thing and I think it?s a mutual benefit for the people in Belize City as well.?

Jacqueline Woods
?What are you hoping will be established following the signing??

Ronald Green
?Well with the relationships that we build here there may be some emerging markets that are available here and I know that as infrastructure needs change here, there?s the need for professional services that we may have, the goods and services in the textile that are here and the agricultural business that?s here, we?re a growing state, we?re a growing city, so we?re in need of those items as well.?

Jacqueline Woods
?Mayor, how does Belize City stand to benefit from this trade partner agreement??

David Fonseca, Belize City Mayor
?Well, we hope through the partnership agreement that we can work out programmes where we can have businesses from Houston coming across to Belize, particularly Belize City, to set up shop here in Belize City, which would generate more funds into the economy, which would also generate more jobs for the people of Belize City, and for Belize overall. So that?s the major thrust right now, to get business activities, new activities from Houston into Belize country to generate more jobs and to beef up the economy of the country.?

The signing is part of a trade mission that will conclude on the Friday.