Fourth Cohort Successfully Completes Cell Phone Repair Training in San Ignacio

The Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Investment, through its Investment Policy and Compliance Unit (IPCU), partnered with the Taiwan Technical Mission and the National Women’s Commission to expand the “Cell Phone Repair Training for Women in Belize” into the Cayo District.

The course was held from July 7th to July 11th at the Cayo Centre for Employment Training (CET) and delivered 50 hours of intensive training for the 17 female participants from San Ignacio, Santa Elena, San Jose Succotz, Billy White, Duck Run 2, Benque Viejo Del Carmen, Esperanza, El Progresso, and Santa Familia. The training aimed to equip participants with skills for self-employment opportunities and meet the growing demand for cell phone repair technicians. In addition, a mid-week, 3-hour course on Sales and Professional Etiquette was also delivered by the Belize Training and Employment Centre (BTEC), an arm of BELTRAIDE.

Over the course of the training, a total of 75 phones were repaired, with the most common fixes being battery, screen, and charging port replacements.  What was once viewed as a male-dominated trade is now being delivered by over 60 women and girls across the country. This constructive partnership with the National Women’s Commission aligns with the mandate of the National Gender Policy 2024-2030 and the government’s priority to stimulate the Orange Economy by creating employment opportunities, especially in underserved communities.

To support the graduates in launching their businesses, each trainee received a toolkit that included antistatic mats, electric multimeters, soldering irons, and magnifying lamps to support them in offering their services and to open a business immediately.

Hon. Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change & Solid Waste Management; Hon. Alex Balona, Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise; and Mr. Andrew Su, Chief of the Taiwan Technical Mission, distributed the certificates and handed over the cell phone repair starter kits to the trainees.

Also present at the closing ceremony of the training were Mr. Lincoln Blake, Director of the Investment Policy and Compliance Unit; Ms. Esperanza Arreaza, Commissioner of the National Women’s Commission; Ms. Indira Usher, Foreign Service Officer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Culture, and Immigration; and Mr. Abisur Quintal, cell phone repair instructor from Jarvis Fix.

For more information, please contact:

Investment, Policy & Compliance Unit

Ministry of Investment

880-4728/880-4729