A quick look at the Belize Investment Summit, a two-day event starting today to connect investors and businesses in Belize.
The inaugural Belize Investment Summit has started today in San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye in Belize.
The idea of the Belize Investment Summit comes from the government of Prime Minister Johnny Briceño, which won power almost exactly a year ago, during the height of the Covid pandemic and the lockdowns and restrictions associated with it.
Briceño’s PUP won a landslide election on November 11, 2020, and immediately inherited a country impoverished by the pandemic. Belize at the time of the 2020 election was in the midst of its worst economic crisis since independence in 1981.
In the past year, the government has struggled to get Belize back on an even keel, with Covid numbers continuing to surge and fall, creating periods of lockdown and uncertainty.
In the midst of all this, as Belize sees its Covid numbers drop after a second big wave, and vaccination numbers improve, the government wants to showcase the country as open for business and accepting of much-needed foreign investment and job creation.
“I am convinced, as Prime Minister, that it is the opportune time to invest in Belize; whether foreign or local, to establish strategic partnerships and find investment opportunities,” said Briceño on the Summit’s homepage.
2 days to go…
The first Belize 🇧🇿 Investment Summit… Nov 10th and 11th… this week Wednesday and Thursday.
Keynote Speaker the former PM of Canada, the Rt. Hon. Stephen J. Harper touches down in San Pedro greeted by Mayor Wally Nunez.#BIS2021 #belize #investment pic.twitter.com/wGz3jJa6EW
— Johnny Briceño (@JohnBricenoBZE) November 9, 2021
The summit will showcase a number of different Belizean companies across a wide range of sectors seeking investment.
The idea is to connect companies in Belize seeking investment with investors from around the world, looking for a safe country to consider.
Belizean entrepreneurs looking for funding to help them with their startups will also get a chance to pitch possible investors at the summit.
Briceño will speak at the summit himself, and will also leave a panel of government ministers and business leaders to host things and to showcase the country on his behalf. Another keynote speaker will be ex-Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper.
The summit runs through today and tomorrow at the Grand Caribe Belize Resort on Ambergris Caye. If successful, the plan is to turn this into an annual event.
Raising capital on your own can be difficult and time consuming.
Attract investors by pitching your start-up and get a chance to be showcased during the Belize Investment Summit 2021 Start-Up features!
Register here! https://t.co/kDUfLacoq4 pic.twitter.com/wJVFPQg2SY
— Belize Investment Summit 2021 (@BIS_2021) October 26, 2021
James Dyde is the editor of centralamerica.com. He lives in Escazu, Costa Rica.
