Made in the U.S.A. exhibition opens at Princess

Trade shows like BelPro Connex and Expo Belize highlights local products on the market but this weekend, Belizeans will get a chance to see what’s new on shelves in the United States. Jacqueline Godwin has more.

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
For the past five years the Made in the U.S.A. exhibition has showcased American products and services available to Belize. According to the numbers, the United States is Belize?s number one trading partner, providing roughly thirty-eight percent of our imports and fifty-five percent of exports. U.S. Ambassador to Belize Robert Dieter believes such events can build relationships in new areas of investment.

Robert Dieter, U.S. Ambassador to Belize
?The whole idea behind this is to try and promote trade between the two countries and to encourage investment. All I know just in the year that I have been here is that there is an increasing number of Americans that are looking at Belize as an opportunity to invest. We see a lot of activity on San Pedro for example. I hope that when we move to Belmopan that there will be a little more spill over in that side of the country. Given that Belize is a two hour airplane flight from Miami, a two hour flight from Houston it?s not that far. And so whatever we can do to raise the profile of Belize, so that the people are more aware of it in the United Sates–being an English speaking country it?s a natural environment for Americans to operate in. It is easier for them to communicate and understand what is happening.?

Dieter hopes strong U.S. Belize diplomatic relations will only bolster improved trade between the two countries.

Reporting for News Five Jacqueline Godwin.

The exhibition continues on Saturday at the Princess Hotel.