In a dramatic display of opposition on August 4, 2026, all four independent senators of Belize have publicly challenged and walked out of a Senate sitting in Belmopan to protest the greenlight given to Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) for its planned $80 million acquisition of Speednet Communications Limited, better known as SMART. The bipartisan group of lawmakers — Kevin Herrera, Louis Wade, Glenfield Dennison, and Janelle Chanona — released a formal joint statement outlining their deep-seated concerns over the proposed merger, which they say carry unresolved risks for Belize’s legal framework and competitive telecommunications market. The independent senators have aligned their position with a broad coalition of domestic stakeholders, including the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB), and the country’s parliamentary Opposition. All these groups have raised persistent questions about three core aspects of the transaction: its legal standing, the accuracy of SMART’s $80 million valuation, and the long-term consequences for industry competition. A central argument from the senators is that the completed acquisition would create an effective monopoly in Belize’s telecommunications sector, a outcome that directly violates Section 42(4) of the nation’s existing Telecommunications Act. The lawmakers stressed that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the country’s independent regulatory body for public utilities, has a non-negotiable legal obligation to conduct a full, transparent merger review before any transaction can move forward. This mandatory review is particularly critical, they noted, because the acquisition would restructure existing shareholdings in the telecommunications market and reshape competitive dynamics for all consumers and businesses operating in the sector. Beyond competition and legality concerns, the independent senators have also called into question the rushed timing of the proposed sale. They warned that pushing to finalize the transaction while core legal questions remain unaddressed puts the entire validity of the deal at legal risk, setting a problematic precedent for regulatory compliance in the country. The protest came to a head during Wednesday afternoon’s Senate sitting in the capital city of Belmopan, where all four independent senators exited the chamber in a coordinated walkout to demonstrate their formal opposition to BTL’s approval of the acquisition plan. This high-profile protest marks a significant escalation in tensions over the proposed merger, drawing national attention to the growing bipartisan and cross-sector pushback against what critics describe as a non-compliant, anti-competitive transaction that would harm Belizean consumers and small businesses.
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BTL Board Greenlights $80M SMART Acquisition Plan
On August 4, 2026, the Board of Directors of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) gave formal approval to move forward with a planned $80 million acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital of Speednet, which operates under the SMART brand. The green light from the board is not final, however, as it remains contingent on two key conditions: the successful completion of ongoing due diligence reviews, and the final negotiation of binding contractual terms including representations, warranties, and other legal protections for BTL as the purchasing party.
BTL has framed the proposed transaction as a transformative strategic investment that will lay stronger groundwork for Belize’s long-term digital development. Company officials emphasize that the merger will eliminate wasteful overlapping telecommunications infrastructure across the country, while also allowing the combined entity to expand affordable connectivity services to underserved rural communities. Critically, BTL has stressed that the $80 million purchase will not require any external borrowing, nor will it demand additional capital investment from the Social Security Board (SSB), BTL’s major stakeholder. This confirmation was corroborated by SSB Chair Dr. Sheree Smiling-Craig, who clarified that the public social security fund will not inject new funds into BTL to support the deal.
Over the course of two months, SSB carried out an in-depth independent review of the acquisition’s potential benefits and risks. According to Smiling-Craig, the fund’s analysis concluded that the transaction has strong potential to reinforce BTL’s competitive standing in Belize’s telecommunications market, and ultimately boost the long-term value of SSB’s existing stake – a benefit that will flow to the fund’s contributors and beneficiaries. Based on BTL’s current financial projections, the acquisition has an estimated discounted payback period of roughly 4.2 years, meaning the company expects to recoup its full investment in under four and a half years. Moving forward, BTL has stated it remains dedicated to maintaining open, constructive dialogue with the national government, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), and all other industry stakeholders as the deal progresses through the next phases of review and negotiation.
Despite BTL and SSB’s confidence in the transaction, the board’s approval has drawn sharp pushback from two major Belizean organizations: the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB). Both groups have raised repeated concerns about multiple aspects of the proposed acquisition, including the rigor and transparency of the financial due diligence process, the potential negative impact on market competition in Belize’s telecommunications sector, and the failure to conduct broader public consultation with affected parties ahead of the board’s vote. NTUCB President Ella Waight made the union’s position clear in comments ahead of the board’s decision, stating that no outcome of the vote would alter the group’s opposition. “The overall finalised decision has to be no,” Waight said.
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Top cop hails ‘safest Kadooment Day’
Barbados’ iconic Crop Over festival reached its long-awaited, high-energy climax on Kadooment Day this year, marking the first major public festival managed under newly appointed Commissioner of Police Sonia Boyce. In a post-event statement, Boyce celebrated that the day closed with zero recorded violent incidents or major disruptions, an outcome she credited to both responsible public behavior and robust, collaborative security planning.
Commissioner Boyce extended public recognition to both local Barbadians and international travelers who took part in the festivities, noting that widespread public cooperation was a core pillar of the event’s safety. Beyond public conduct, she highlighted that the incident-free outcome grew out of months of detailed preparation, intentionally high-visibility law enforcement deployment, and unprecedented cross-agency coordination between national security bodies.
“I am pleased to share that Grand Kadooment was concluded without any major incidents,” Commissioner Boyce confirmed in her official remarks. “As Commissioner of Police, I am proud of the way Barbadians and visitors conducted themselves throughout the day, and of the strong partnership among our security services that helped keep everyone safe.”
To secure the sprawling parade route stretching from Princess Alice Highway to Mighty Grynner Highway, law enforcement implemented a multi-layered security strategy that combined traditional on-the-ground policing with cutting-edge surveillance technology. Thousands of uniformed officers were stationed at regular intervals along the entire parade path, ensuring a constant visible presence designed to deter potential unrest and allow for immediate intervention if needed.
Meanwhile, centralized command centers leveraged an expansive network of closed-circuit television cameras and aerial drone surveillance to maintain real-time, full-coverage situational awareness across the entire event zone. These digital and aerial monitoring tools were complemented by strategically placed security checkpoints for targeted screening, dedicated teams to manage rerouted traffic flow, and rapid-response tactical units positioned to address any emerging disruptions within minutes.
Boyce placed particular emphasis on the joint operations model that brought multiple national security bodies together, especially in high-density crowd zones along the parade that have historically posed management challenges. “From the outset, my team and I placed great emphasis on careful planning, high visibility policing, traffic management, closed-circuit television and drone monitoring, checkpoint screening, rapid response capacity, medical support, and close coordination with the Barbados Defence Force,” she explained.
BDF soldiers deployed alongside civilian police to strengthen response capacity and maintain order across the parade route, with extra focus placed on traditional bottleneck areas that regularly see extreme crowd pressure during the festival. “BDF soldiers worked side by side with the Barbados Police Service to strengthen our ability to respond swiftly and maintain public order across the route,” Boyce noted.
The tight access controls required to manage the massive event unavoidably disrupted regular traffic and local movement for residents and businesses located along the parade route. Commissioner Boyce publicly thanked local property owners, business operators, and residents for their patience and cooperation as they navigated pass-based entry restrictions and mandatory security checkpoints.
“Our officers, together with our partners from the Barbados Defence Force and the emergency services, worked closely with residents and businesses along the route to manage authorised movement… and to minimise inconvenience wherever possible,” Boyce said. “I know this requires patience and understanding, and I am grateful to all who cooperated with these arrangements.”
Looking beyond the festival, Commissioner Boyce argued that the collaborative operational framework that delivered a safe Grand Kadooment offers a replicable model for improving everyday national public safety across Barbados. “What we achieved today is a reminder of what is possible when national celebration is marked by public discipline, respect for lawful directions, and genuine partnership,” Boyce said. “I see clearly that this kind of partnership is essential to keeping Barbados safe, not only during major events, but every day.”
She closed her statement by extending gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed to the successful event, including festival revelers, band leaders, street vendors, emergency medical personnel, and frontline law enforcement officers, whose combined dedication delivered both a secure and memorable celebration for all attendees.
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Got a Traffic Fine Text? Read This Before You Pay that Fine
In a recent public advisory issued on August 4, 2026, the Belize Police Department has issued an urgent warning to local residents over a widespread cyber scam involving fake traffic fine notifications delivered via text message and online platforms.
According to the official statement, the fraudulent messages falsely claim to originate from the Belize Police Department, alerting recipients that they have committed an unrecorded traffic violation. The scam messages pressure targets into making immediate payments through a third-party website, attaching harsh false threats that non-compliance will result in driver’s license suspension or further legal action.
Law enforcement has emphasized explicitly that the department never issued any such communications, and the entire scheme is a coordinated fraud attempt by cybercriminals. To trick victims into sharing sensitive data, criminals have built fake websites designed to closely replicate the look and functionality of official Belizean government online portals, making the scam difficult to distinguish from legitimate notices for the average user.
To protect the public from financial loss and identity theft, the Belize Police Department has outlined clear, actionable steps for anyone who receives one of these suspicious messages. First, recipients are instructed not to respond to the fraudulent text or click any embedded links, which could deliver malware to personal devices or lead directly to the fake scam portal. Second, under no circumstances should individuals submit any payments through the website listed in the message. Third, all official traffic violation notices should only be verified through authenticated, official channels run by the Government of Belize to confirm their legitimacy. Finally, anyone who receives a suspicious text or encounters this scam is encouraged to report it to local law enforcement immediately to help authorities track and shut down the criminal operation.
Cybersecurity experts note that this type of government impersonation scam has grown in popularity globally, as criminals exploit public trust in law enforcement to pressure quick, unthinking actions from targets. The Belize Police Department’s warning comes as part of ongoing efforts to educate the public about emerging cyber threats and prevent vulnerable residents from falling victim to financial fraud.
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CPL to launch free health screenings for fans at 8 host venues
The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL), one of the region’s most popular annual sporting events, has launched a unique public health initiative ahead of its upcoming season, partnering with local and regional health agencies to bring free non-communicable disease (NCD) screenings to fans at every tournament venue. All eight host stadiums for this season’s matches, including the well-known Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, will host on-site testing clinics staffed by qualified health professionals throughout the competition, giving cricket fans access to preventive care while they enjoy the sport. NCDs are recognized as one of the most pressing public health challenges across the Caribbean, where rates of chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes remain disproportionately high compared to global averages. This screening program is a core part of the league’s long-term commitment to supporting regional public health efforts to address this crisis. The free screenings available to interested fans cover a wide range of key health metrics, including blood pressure measurement, blood glucose testing to flag diabetes risk, Body Mass Index (BMI) assessment, urinalysis, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer risk. In a statement explaining the importance of the new initiative, CPL Chief Executive Officer Pete Russell emphasized that the burden of NCDs extends across the entire Caribbean community. “Non-communicable diseases have touched almost every one of us in some way, whether as patients ourselves or through a loved one,” Russell said. “Being a good corporate citizen means using the platform we’ve built for something bigger than the game itself. Early detection is key to combating non-communicable diseases – this programme puts that principle into practice.” Russell added that the league’s broad regional reach comes with a corresponding social responsibility to contribute to community well-being. “CPL reaches fans in eight territories every season, and we believe that reach comes with a responsibility to give back. Bringing health screening into our stadiums is a simple and practical way to act on that responsibility,” he explained. Public health experts across the region have previously highlighted that improving access to routine preventive screenings is one of the most effective ways to reduce NCD-related illness and death, as early intervention can drastically improve patient outcomes for most chronic conditions.
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“The Answer Has to Be No”: NTUCB Stands Firm on BTL Acquisition of SMART
On August 4, 2026, a major public and labor conflict erupted in Belize City over a planned corporate acquisition, as the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) maintained its unwavering opposition to Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL)’s proposed takeover of SpeedNet Communications, which operates under the brand name SMART.
Opponents of the deal gathered in protest directly outside BTL’s headquarters on St. Thomas Street, raising urgent red flags about four core issues: a lack of procedural transparency, questionable company valuation, risks to market competition, and the absence of meaningful broad public consultation before the BTL board of directors met to deliberate the acquisition. News of the scheduled board meeting quickly mobilized organized labor groups, with NTUCB and its president Ella Waight leading the opposition charge.
In an on-the-ground statement during the protest, Waight confirmed that union leaders only learned the board meeting would move forward on the morning of August 4, after weeks of uncertainty about the timing of the vote. She emphasized that NTUCB’s opposition to the acquisition has not shifted since the beginning of 2026, when a majority of the congress’ 11 affiliated unions voted to reject the takeover. That opposition, she stressed, will remain unchanged no matter what decision the BTL board reaches.
While the official result of the board’s closed-door deliberations had not been released to the public as of the protest, Waight made clear the NTUCB’s non-negotiable position: “The overall finalised decision has to be no.”
Waight argued that key concerns and recommendations raised by labor and other public stakeholders were completely ignored in the lead-up to the board vote. One of the union’s central demands has been a full, multi-year independent audit of SMART’s assets and operations, rather than the limited single-year audit that has been completed to date. Waight questioned the validity of the narrow assessment, noting, “who can assess a company for one year?” As of the protest, that full independent audit had not been carried out.
BTL attempted to address criticism of lack of outreach in a formal letter dated July 31, confirming that stakeholder consultations had been completed and that the acquisition proposal would now be forwarded to Belize’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for final regulatory review. But Waight pushed back hard against that claim, arguing that any consultation that did occur was limited to a small, insider circle of connected interests rather than including all affected parties. “There were only cliques of little consultations that happened,” she said.
Waight dismissed BTL’s response to union concerns as empty and unresponsive, saying “It was irrelevant of the concerns we had. No substance to that answer.” She also revealed that the NTUCB submitted two formal letters to the PUC prior to the BTL board vote, requesting clarity on the regulatory process for the acquisition and details about the commission’s review timeline. As of the protest, the union had not received any reply to either correspondence, a snub that has eroded all trust in the regulatory process among union leaders. “So at this point, we have no trust in them,” Waight said.
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Loved ones remember victims of Anse Cochon boat tragedy
It has been more than 14 days since a devastating late-night boat collision near the coastal community of Anse Cochon claimed four lives, and for grieving family members, surviving passengers, and close friends, the pain of their sudden loss remains raw as they share loving tributes to the victims who never returned home.
The four lives cut short in the tragedy span different ages and hometowns across the island: 21-year-old Mhakeida Nestor from La Fargue, Choiseul; 25-year-old Debbie Dolor from Market Road, Soufrière; and Marley William and Tyrone Paul, both residents of Barons Drive. Among the victims, Paul’s family has opened up about the disbelieving grief that has followed his death.
Dalpha Paul, Tyrone Paul’s sister, recalled the chaotic, heart-wrenching morning she learned her brother had not survived the crash. The collision took place shortly before midnight on Saturday, July 18, while Paul was asleep at home. It was not until the next morning, when she woke to a flood of alarming messages on the WhatsApp messaging platform, that she sensed something was terribly wrong.
“I woke up and saw everybody posting on WhatsApp, so I said let me go down the road because something happened,” Dalpha recounted. By the time she reached the crash site, family members had already confirmed the devastating news. What made the loss even harder to process was the fact that Tyrone was an experienced, skilled swimmer — a detail that left his family holding out hope for hours that he would make it out alive.
“Tyrone can swim. So if they go on shore and you don’t get him, what does that mean? That means Tyrone was gone already,” she said, her voice thick with tears. Remembering her brother’s gentle character, Dalpha described him as a universally loved member of their community whose kindness could not be summed up in words. “The word to describe Tyrone, I don’t think they’ll be able to get it in the dictionary; when it comes to loving, caring – everything in one. Tyrone was the lover boy of the community,” she added, holding back tears.
For survivors who lived through the crash, the terrifying moments immediately after the impact remain vivid and traumatic. Lester Jean, one of the passengers who escaped the collision, recalled that the two vessels, returning from a community party, collided with little warning, throwing the crowded boats into chaos.
“We heard a big noise. People were shouting for help. We didn’t even know if our boat hit them or they hit us. We were all struggling at the same time,” Jean said. In the chaotic aftermath, Jean and other uninjured survivors scrambled to search for passengers thrown into the dark coastal waters, calling out the names of the missing victims—Tyrone, Mhakeida (known to loved ones as Molly), and Debbie—while waiting for first responders to arrive. Jean suffered serious injuries in the crash, requiring multiple stitches for lacerations and losing his prosthetic eye from the force of the impact. Even weeks later, he said, the psychological trauma of that night remains difficult to work through.
Alan Jules, Tyrone Paul’s closest friend, said the ache of losing his constant companion has not faded in the weeks since the crash. “He was my real friend. He was my best friend,” Jules said. “It was a mistake… a terrible mistake.”
The deadly incident unfolded when two passenger vessels, the Ocean Angel and a Mango Tours boat, collided in coastal waters near Anse Cochon just minutes before midnight on July 18. Fourteen other passengers were treated for injuries ranging from minor to severe. Search and rescue teams spent four days scouring the surrounding waters for the missing victims, and the recovery of the bodies of Marley William and Tyrone Paul off the coast of Anse La Raye Bay brought the final death toll to four.
In the wake of the tragedy, local law enforcement has launched a formal investigation into the cause of the collision. To complement the police probe and address broader safety gaps, the national government has established a formal Commission of Inquiry tasked with examining every detail of the incident and proposing actionable reforms to strengthen maritime safety regulations and prevent similar fatal accidents in the future.
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5-Year-Old Caught in Crossfire in San Ignacio
On the evening of August 4, 2026, a routine walk home turned chaotic in San Ignacio Town, when a targeted attack left an innocent 5-year-old boy wounded by stray gunfire. The incident unfolded just after 7:40 p.m., when local law enforcement received multiple emergency calls reporting gunshots along Collins Boulevard.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found 30-year-old Carlton McKoy lying on the ground, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Preliminary investigative findings outline a clear premeditated attack: McKoy had just driven his vehicle onto Collins Boulevard when gunmen stationed in a parked car opened fire on his car, indicating McKoy was the intended target.
In a tragic twist of wrong place, wrong time, the young boy and his mother were traveling along nearby Bullet Tree Road heading home when a stray bullet hit the child. Both McKoy and the injured minor were quickly transported to a local hospital for immediate care. Due to the nature of the child’s injury, he was later transferred to the larger Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) to receive specialized, advanced treatment.
In an official update following the attack, police confirmed that both victims are currently listed in stable condition, a small relief amid the violent incident that has shaken the local community. Authorities have not yet released additional details on potential suspects or motives for the targeted shooting, and the investigation remains ongoing.
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McIntyre announces historic 10% flat income tax rate in $1.125 billion budget
In a landmark announcement delivered to Dominica’s Parliament on Tuesday, Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre has introduced what he calls the most expansive personal income tax reduction in the nation’s history, paired with a total EC$1.125 billion national budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. At the core of the reform is a sweeping shift to a uniform 10% flat income tax rate, a policy set to enter into force on January 1, 2027.
The new single-rate framework will replace Dominica’s current three-bracket progressive tax system, which imposes rates of 15%, 25%, and 35% on different income levels. Crucially, the reform preserves the existing tax-free threshold: individuals earning $30,000 or less annually will still not be required to pay any personal income tax.
McIntyre emphasized that the new tax overhaul builds on over two decades of consistent policy from the ruling Dominica Labour Party administration, which has centered its economic agenda on easing the tax burden for working people and helping residents keep more of their hard-earned income. He provided historical context to frame the scale of the 2027 reform, noting that when the current government first took office in 2000, the nation’s income tax structure carried far higher top rates of 20%, 30%, and 40%, with a tax-free threshold set at just $12,000 annually.
Following Dominica’s steady economic recovery and the successful conclusion of its International Monetary Fund-backed economic stabilization program, the government began rolling out incremental tax relief measures starting in 2009. Those earlier reforms cut the top marginal tax rates to the current 15%, 25%, and 35%, while gradually raising the tax-free threshold from $25,000 to its current $30,000. Over the years, the administration has also introduced a range of additional tax concessions, including expanded deductions for mortgage interest, full deductions for student loan payments, and additional allowances for home and medical insurance premiums. These changes have already lowered tax bills for thousands of workers and removed many low-income Dominicans from the personal income tax system entirely.
“Today, despite a global environment marked by widespread economic uncertainty, this government will again provide relief to further empower the hardworking people of Dominica,” McIntyre told lawmakers during his budget address.
The finance minister framed the new 10% flat rate as an intentional fiscal sacrifice for the government, but one that will deliver tangible, long-term benefits for residents while simplifying the entire tax system and making it far more equitable for all working people. Unlike broad-based tax cuts that disproportionately benefit high earners, this reform retains protections for low-income workers while delivering proportional relief to all residents earning above the $30,000 tax-free threshold.
To help the public understand the immediate impact of the change, McIntyre shared concrete examples of annual and monthly savings for workers at different income levels. A full-time worker earning $48,000 per year ($4,000 monthly) will take home an extra $75 each month, adding up to $900 in additional annual disposable income. For a worker earning $60,000 per year with no additional deductions, monthly tax bills will drop from $458 to just $250, translating to $208 in monthly savings, or roughly $2,500 per year. Higher-earning residents will see even more substantial savings: an individual earning $84,000 annually will gain an extra $541.67 per month, totaling around $6,500 in annual tax savings. For multi-income households, the benefits are cumulative: a family with two working members each earning $4,000 per month will save an extra $150 monthly, or $1,800 per year, before accounting for other applicable deductions.
McIntyre noted that the extra disposable income from the tax cut will be entirely at the discretion of Dominican households, who can put the savings toward covering basic household expenses, paying down mortgage or other consumer debt, boosting health insurance coverage, building personal savings, investing in small local businesses, or funding further education for family members. Ultimately, he said, the tax reform reaffirms the government’s commitment to strengthening household financial stability while driving broad-based economic growth by putting more money directly into the pockets of working Dominicans.
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Record 701 companies join regional agrifood business event, creating US$25.5 million in opportunities
The 13th iteration of the Virtual Agrifood Business Matchmaking Round has wrapped up with landmark results, drawing a record-breaking 701 agrifood industry stakeholders from across Latin America and the Caribbean and unlocking an estimated $25.5 million in new commercial opportunities for participating enterprises.
This annual virtual event is the product of a long-standing collaborative partnership between three major regional and international institutions: the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA). Launched in 2020, the ongoing initiative was designed with a clear core mission: to break down barriers to cross-border trade and strengthen the regional agrifood commerce ecosystem.
The 2026 event brought together a diverse cohort of businesses spanning the entire region. In addition to large representation from Central American nations, participants traveled virtually from key agrifood-producing markets including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. Demographic breakdowns highlight the event’s inclusive focus: 38 percent of all participating companies are led by women, while entrepreneurs under the age of 40 head 46 percent of participating firms. The majority of attendees, 68 percent, are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) – businesses that often struggle to access cross-border market connections on their own.
Trade activity at this year’s round was led by high-demand fresh produce, with fresh fruits and vegetables accounting for the largest share of buy-sell transactions. Coffee and cocoa took the second spot as the most actively traded products, alongside other offerings ranging from value-added prepared foods and nutrient-dense healthy snacks to specialized industry services including transportation and logistics, and advisory support for meeting international food quality and safety standards. Beyond immediate transactions, the event also served as a critical networking hub, allowing enterprises to forge new long-term strategic partnerships and scope out untapped customer bases in new regional markets.
Since the virtual matchmaking series launched six years ago, cumulative participation has reached 7,385 supplier companies from across Latin America and the Caribbean. Post-event surveys compiled by IICA show the initiative has generated a total of $309.7 million in projected business opportunities to date, marking consistent growth in both participation and impact with each successive round.
Edith Flores de Molina, Director of SIECA’s Center for Studies on Economic Integration (CEIE), emphasized that the ongoing success of the series underscores the tangible economic value of expanding regional integrated trade. “The results achieved through the thirteen business rounds held to date demonstrate that this type of event promotes regional trade within a framework of inclusion and competitiveness,” Flores de Molina said. “They also enable companies to strengthen commercial ties beyond national borders, expanding their business networks and opening new market opportunities.”
Daniel Rodríguez, a representative from IICA’s Directorate of Technical Cooperation, noted that the steady year-over-year rise in participation confirms the event has cemented its status as one of the region’s premier platforms for connecting across the agrifood supply chain. The event brings together producers, large and small agribusinesses, industry service providers, and commercial buyers into one accessible virtual space, filling a gap in market access for smaller operators.
Pablo Rabczuk, Senior Programme Officer involved in the initiative, added that virtual matchmaking tools address a critical need for MSMEs looking to expand their regional footprint. “Tools such as virtual business matchmaking rounds are essential to encourage companies across the region to invest in regional markets,” Rabczuk said. “At a time of heightened global volatility, there is significant room for growth within the region, and this opportunity should be seized.”