分类： business

Downtown Belize City is undergoing a significant transformation with the establishment of an innovative fish market and restaurant complex on Victoria Street, a previously overlooked area now at the forefront of urban renewal. Spearheaded by the Belize Tourism Board, this development represents a strategic effort to boost economic activity through tourism-driven initiatives.

The project, located at the intersection of Victoria and North Front Streets in the Pickstock constituency, features vibrant structures that have already become local landmarks. Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler’s constituency is set to benefit from this culinary tourism concept, which draws inspiration from successful Caribbean models.

Evan Tillett, Director of Tourism, explained the vision behind the development: “This facility will allow visitors to purchase fresh fish and have it prepared immediately at adjacent restaurants. While inspired by Barbados’ famous Oistins fish market, our implementation will operate at an elevated standard, enhancing the overall Belize City tourism product and aligning with our sustainable tourism masterplan.”

Reynaldo Malik, President of the Belize Hotel Association, emphasized the broader economic implications: “Such projects create opportunities for small entrepreneurs to access markets while simultaneously improving quality of life. This holistic approach uses tourism as an economic catalyst to empower local businesses, their families, and employees through sustainable development.”

The Victoria Street revitalization forms part of a comprehensive strategy to position Belize City as a competitive Caribbean destination while addressing urban economic disparities through targeted infrastructure investment.

In a strategic expansion beyond its brewing origins, Caribbean International Brewery has launched a significant venture into the food production sector through its subsidiary, Caribbean Organic Foodstuff. The company unveiled its newest product, Mana Flour, on November 27, 2025, marking a substantial shift from its initial bottled water business established merely six years prior.

The flour product enters a market long dominated by established brands, with Caribbean Organic Foodstuff positioning Mana Flour as both more affordable and higher quality than existing alternatives. According to Communications Director Fortunato Noble, the pricing strategy represents approximately an 11% reduction compared to government-mandated control prices for hundred-pound sacks, ranging between seventy-nine to eighty-five dollars.

This initiative aligns with broader national economic objectives, receiving strong governmental endorsement evidenced by Prime Minister John Briceño’s personal attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony directly upon his return from international travels. The Prime Minister emphasized the project’s significance in job creation, foreign exchange conservation, and enhanced food security for Belize.

The company’s vision extends beyond domestic market disruption. With a state-of-the-art milling facility capable of processing 150 metric tons daily, Caribbean Organic Foodstuff possesses sufficient capacity to supply the entire Belizean market while pursuing export opportunities. The company is actively engaged in negotiations with potential partners across the Caribbean region, exploring distribution channels not only for flour but also for complementary products including noodles, cooking oil, biscuits, and snacks.

The manufacturing operation currently employs over one hundred workers, predominantly women, contributing to local economic development. This expansion represents part of a continuous strategic planning process initiated in 2023 to identify and locally produce goods that Belize traditionally imports, thereby strengthening national economic resilience and self-sufficiency.

In a significant boost to Belize’s small business ecosystem, twenty-nine aspiring entrepreneurs each received substantial grants of $7,000 through the Belize Enterprise Empowerment Project (BEEP). The initiative, administered by BELTRAIDE with financial backing from the CARICOM Development Fund, addresses the critical challenges facing new business owners—from startup capital acquisition to strategic planning and network development.

BELTRAIDE CEO Nardia Garcia emphasized the program’s comprehensive approach, noting that BEEP has already distributed $475,000 in grants to forty-four micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in its first cohort alone. The selection process notably prioritized women-led ventures and businesses operating in rural communities, with special attention to enterprises within the orange, green, and blue economies.

The program distinguishes itself through its capacity-building framework. Recipients undergo rigorous five-week training in financial management, digital marketing, and investment planning before receiving funding. This educational component ensures entrepreneurs can effectively utilize grants for working capital, equipment acquisition, product development, or marketing initiatives.

Among the beneficiaries, Lucien Dawson of Effortless Memories event planning company described how BEEP helped formalize his business concept: ‘The program actually helped me to put my business on paper… developing a business model canvas enabled me to see what my business is and how I could expand upon it.’ Dawson plans to launch a website to access the destination wedding market.

The current cohort demonstrates BEEP’s commitment to inclusive growth—twenty-one recipients are women entrepreneurs and thirteen operate from rural communities. Two Hopkins-based business owners, Kenima Williams (Kenima’s Garifuna Cooking Class) and Selina Avila (Seemore Adventures dive shop), highlighted plans to expand their cultural tourism and diving operations respectively.

BELTRAIDE Executive Director Ishmael Quiroz confirmed ongoing support through the Small Business Development Center and partnerships with organizations like the Caribbean Export Development Agency. By project completion in 2026, BEEP is projected to have supported ninety-five MSMEs with approximately $800,000 in total funding, creating a lasting impact on Belize’s economic landscape.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has documented a historic surge in remittance flows to Latin America and the Caribbean, with Belize emerging as a significant beneficiary. New data reveals that migrant transfers to Belize reached $173 million in 2025, representing 5.2% of the nation’s GDP—a higher proportional impact than observed in larger economies like Mexico and Colombia.

This financial lifeline, primarily originating from the United States where approximately 50,000 Belizean migrants reside, has become fundamental to household stability across the region. Remittances consistently cover essential expenses including nutrition, housing, education, and healthcare for countless families. The IDB emphasizes that these cross-border transfers have now maintained sixteen consecutive years of uninterrupted growth, with a projected 7.2% increase across the LAC region for 2025.

The resilience of these flows is particularly remarkable given the economic and political uncertainty in host countries. The report identifies migrant behavioral adaptations—including utilizing savings for extraordinary transfers and increasing working hours—as key drivers sustaining this financial pipeline. This response mechanism emerged amid policy discussions surrounding remittance taxation and migration reforms under the current U.S. administration.

Despite demonstrating robust growth, the IDB cautions that this resilience has limits. Potential declines in migration patterns or increased barriers to money transfers could immediately jeopardize household incomes. The bank notes that while remittances have lifted millions from extreme poverty, the most vulnerable populations often lack access to migration opportunities due to associated costs, creating an ongoing developmental challenge.

Belize’s tourism industry is demonstrating remarkable resilience as it approaches the peak holiday season, with industry leaders expressing renewed optimism following a period of significant volatility in visitor numbers. The recent conclusion of the U.S. federal government shutdown has provided an additional boost to the sector’s recovery prospects.

According to data from the Belize Tourism Board, 2025 has been characterized by dramatic fluctuations rather than consistent decline. While September witnessed an 8.6% decrease in overnight arrivals, several months including January, February, April, July, and August achieved record-breaking arrival numbers, establishing new benchmarks for monthly tourism performance.

Evan Tillett, Director of the Belize Tourism Board, characterized the year as “very volatile” during a recent press briefing, acknowledging the challenges while highlighting the sector’s underlying strength. This volatility is being counterbalanced by emerging regional trends that are working in Belize’s favor. The devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and escalating cartel violence in certain Mexican destinations have prompted both tourists and travel agencies to seek safer Caribbean alternatives.

The Belize Hotel Association reports exceptionally strong booking patterns for the December through March high season, with numerous properties approaching full capacity. Reynaldo Malik, President of the Association, emphasized the critical importance of the current three-week booking window, noting that approximately 60% of next year’s revenue typically materializes during this period.

Despite a 1.7% decline in visitors from the United States—Belize’s primary tourism market—the country’s strategic diversification efforts are yielding positive results. Nicole Usher, CEO of the Ministry of Tourism, highlighted successful initiatives in secondary and regional markets, including recent collaborative agreements with El Salvador and enhanced engagement with the Mundo Maya organization to stimulate increased regional travel within Central America.

With robust regional marketing campaigns, promising occupancy forecasts, and restored travel confidence among American tourists receiving back pay after the government shutdown, Belize’s tourism sector appears well-positioned for a substantial rebound in the coming months.