On May 14th of 2002, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and the Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce signed on to a mutual cooperation agreement. Signing at the time was then President of the Guatemalan Chamber Jorge Briz, the same man who is now Guatemala's foreign minister.
It means a lot that a man who once initiated business cooperation between the countries is now holding a key position in Guatemala's government and one that relates directly to Belize/Guatemala relations. Now that cooperation agreement is 4 years old and the Belize Chamber is extending the scope of the agreement by bringing in BELTRAIDE. It's beginning to look like an extension of confidence building measures and Alfonso Noble found out if it is.
Alyssa Noble,
"The aim of the project is to implement concrete programs aimed at enhancing trade facilitation, improving cross-border commercial exchanges, and promote business opportunities between Belize and Guatemala. On May 14th 2002 a mutual cooperation agreement was signed between the Chamber of Commerce of Guatemala and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The mutual cooperation agreement seeks to enhance the relationship and cooperation between the respective organizations in the fields of import and export, investment, business information and other commercially oriented activities to the benefit of both Chambers.
The overall mission of the enhancing commercial linkages project will implement concrete programs aimed at improving cross-border commercial exchanges and promoting business opportunities between Belizean and Guatemalan entrepreneurs. Through this project a strategic partnership between Belize and Guatemala for peace and prosperity has been established. Trade confidence building has been realized with the foundation and infrastructure laid for Belize and Guatemala to conduct business and perhaps put an end to this dispute once and for all."
Lourdes Smith, BELTRAIDE
"BELTRAIDE and BCCI are today signing a mutual agreement in an effort to add longevity to the relationship already developed under this project. Over the last five years, imports from Guatemala to Belize have almost tripled while reported exports from Belize to Guatemala keep fluctuating. Through increased cooperation between BELTRAIDE and the BCCI, it is expected that job creation and economic growth in Belize will be enhanced by the development of an even stronger business climate, supportive of bilateral trade and investment and improve market access for Belizean goods and services for the benefit of Belizeans."
The mutual cooperation agreement signed between Belize and Guatamala's Chamber of Commerce is financed by the British government through their Global Conflict Prevention Fund.
