The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), in collaboration with the Development Finance Corporation (DFC), convened its Fourth Annual Women’s Empowerment Forum in Belize City on March 18, 2026. This significant gathering united entrepreneurs, corporate executives, policy architects, and development partners from across the nation under the thematic banner “From Survival to Scale: Financing Women for Growth.
The forum’s primary objective centered on dismantling financial barriers and amplifying the economic engagement of Belizean women in the commercial sector. The comprehensive agenda featured expert-led panel discussions addressing crucial topics including the formalization of women-owned enterprises, enhancement of financial accessibility, promotion of workplace inclusivity, implementation of harassment prevention protocols, and utilization of digital innovation for business expansion.
Kim Aikman, Chief Executive Officer of BCCI, emphasized the event’s evolution into a vital ecosystem for resource distribution, stating: “This initiative has matured into an essential platform that equips women with critical tools, professional networks, and financial conduits necessary for business scaling and economic influence enhancement. Women’s empowerment transcends social advocacy—it represents an economic necessity.”
A pivotal component of the forum was the Women’s $1,000 Grant Competition, where eight finalists presented their business models based on narrative strength, funding strategies, and fiscal performance. Micro-enterprises Oma Organix and My Cielo Blue emerged victorious, securing grant funding recognition for their demonstrated innovation capabilities and growth trajectory.