Belmopan, August 13, 2026.
Belize is strengthening its engagement with Central America as countries across the region work together to improve the movement of goods and people and facilitate trade, building a more connected and competitive region.
A Belizean delegation comprising Mrs. Narda Garcia, Chief Executive Officer, Office of the Prime Minister, Investment and Civil Aviation, in her capacity as Alternate Governor to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and Ms. Cinnamon Bottaro, Belize’s Representative on the Board of Directors at the IDB, participated in the Ministerial Dialogue “Central America at the Center: Connectivity and Integration for a more Competitive Region” in Panama City on August 12, 2026.
América en el Centro is an IDB regional initiative aimed at helping Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic become more connected, competitive, and economically integrated.
The meeting brought together ministers and senior officials responsible for finance, transport, and trade to discuss practical solutions for improving regional roads and border crossings, modernising customs and logistics systems, mobilising investment, and facilitating the movement of goods across Central America.
Belize occupies a unique position in the region as a member of SICA and CARICOM. While Belize has historically built and maintained strong economic and institutional ties with the Caribbean, greater integration with Central America presents significant opportunities for Belizean businesses, exporters, and consumers.
Discussions included Cargo Pass, an initiative aimed at creating a more integrated system for moving cargo across borders safely, efficiently, and with greater traceability. For Belize, participating in these discussions is important to ensure that, as the region makes decisions about the infrastructure, trade routes, and systems that will connect Central America in the future, Belize is part of that planning from the outset.
Belize’s participation in dialogues of this nature is important because the regional infrastructure and trade systems being designed today will shape how Central America trades and connects for decades to come. Belize must be part of those decisions.
As Central America becomes more integrated, Belize has an opportunity not simply to connect more closely with its neighbours, but to help connect Central America with Mexico and the Caribbean.
The Government of Belize will continue working with its regional partners and the IDB to ensure that Belize is positioned to benefit from and contribute to a more connected, competitive, and integrated region.
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