BELTRAIDE plans new initiatives

Under the theme, “Making Business Happen”, this morning BELTRAIDE, Belize’s trade and investment development service, officially launched it’s action plan for 2004-2005. This year, focus will be on marketing programmes, national export strategies, and market access. According to Executive Chairman of BELTRAIDE, Lourdes Smith, the organisation and its services are at the disposal of local and foreign businesses.

Lourdes Smith, Executive Chairman, BELTRAIDE

“We want to identify companies who would like to export and work with them to get them export ready. We will be doing several things from training, facilitating technical assistance. And if you look at our action plan, it’s very detailed in the various activities that we will be undergoing. For our local business people, that is the most important one. The other most important thing is to attract large foreign direct investment into Belize so that by attracting large foreign investment in Belize, job creation comes in as a follow up right?”

“What we want to do is really to create or enhance the investment climate for both local investors and foreign investors so we can attract more investment into Belize. When you attract more investment, you are creating more jobs and we are hopeful that the jobs that will be created are fair paying jobs.”

BELTRAIDE’s Board of Directors includes Smith, Dr. Cardo Martinez, Darrel Carter, Emile Mena, Maria Elena Sylvestre, Norman Moore, Hugh O’Brien, and Sharette Yearwood. Copies of the 2004-2005 action plan are available from BELTRAIDE’s headquarters in Belmopan on Orchid Garden Street, or at its branch at the first floor of the Central Bank building in Belize City.