1. UNIDO WORKSHOP LAC – E URASIAN E CONOMIC U NION - BRICS COUNTRIES “ STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCES IN THE GLOBAL MARKET” Lejia Melanie Gideon General Manager, Enterprise &Innovation BELTRAIDE Date

2. Content BELIZE- Country information Export Overview Opportunities for EEU and LAC cooperation Export instruments, incentives, mechanisms Investment instruments Useful links

3. BELIZE - Country Information Located: Eastern coast of Central America. Boundraries: North by Mexico, South and West by Guatemala, and East by the Caribbean Sea Dual Geo-political regions: Caribbean/CARICOM and Central America/SICA. Bio-diversity: tropical rainforests, coastal forests, and grassland, barrier reefs & atolls, coastal coral islands Size: 8867 miles 2 or 22,966 meter 2 (roughly the size of Belgium) Language: English (Spanish is widely spoken)

5. Export Composition by Type : April 2015

6. Merchandise Trade with selected Countries & Regions; April 2015

7. Belize’s Export Priority Sectors

8. Emerging Opportunities for EEU and LAC Cooperation Agriculture & Agro-Processing including 1.Cacao- chocolate processing and other value added products & improved genotypes 2.Grains - Feedstock Mari-culture including: 1.Seaweed – used in facial masks, in health shakes 2.Sea Cucumber – frozen, fresh or salted delicacy Aquaculture including 1.Ready to Eat Shrimp preparations

9. Export Instruments Export Processing Zone (EPZ) Program Boost production for export markets Focuses on manufactured goods and non- traditional agricultural products and services An EPZ classification Non-customs territory of the host state, Export-oriented activities are undertaken in the manufacturing, processing, assembly, and service sectors.

10. Investment Instruments The EPZ Program Also used to attract domestic investment and FDI. The Fiscal Incentives (FI) Programme For genuine investments in Belize Duty exemptions and tax holidays.

11. Investment Instruments The Commercial Free Zone Program For various activities: manufacturing, processing, packaging, warehousing and distribution of goods and services. Offers duty exemption and various tax exemptions There are presently two Commerical Free Zones

12. Useful links Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) www.baha.bz Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) www.sib.org.bz Belize Intellectual Property Office (BELIPO) www.belipo.bz Belize Bureau of Standards (BBS) www.bbs.gov.bz Customs Department www.customs.gov.bz