G.O.B. signs million dollar grant with Japan

Earlier today, the governments of Belize and Japan signed a grant which will see the purchase of equipment, including weather instruments and heavy equipment from areas of the island nation which were ravaged during the last natural disaster.  The initiative is one of several ways in which the local economies of those affected areas are being stimulated.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

Dean Barrow

“This involves a grant of one hundred million Yen from the Japanese government to Belize and the money is to be used in a very interesting way.  It’s an intriguing model.  From what I saw in terms of the briefing note and what the ambassador explained to me, this model will be used for Belize to buy from a range of products that are in fact manufactured in areas of Japan that suffered from the last natural disaster.  So it’s a way for the Japanese government to help to stimulate the economy in those areas, help them to get back on the good foot while at the same time allowing developing countries such as Belize to benefit from the Japanese grant.  There is, as I said, a whole gamut of products, some I see, or that panoply includes loaders and instruments to measure the weather and I am sure that you can get a copy of the detailed list of what’s on offer but clearly this can prove extremely useful to Belize.”