The Prime Minister of Belize, the Hon. Dean Barrow, visited IDB headquarters in Washington, D.C. and met with President Luis Alberto Moreno to discuss Belize’s relationship with the Bank and priority areas of collaboration.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Barrow and President Moreno reaffirmed the strong partnership that exists between the IDB and Belize, and expressed satisfaction at the Bank’s recently approved new country strategy with Belize, which will guide the Bank’s work in the country over the next four years. The strategy aims to support the Government of Belize in improving public expenditure efficiency and effectiveness and promoting private sector development and sustainable export-led growth, by concentrating on four priority areas: education,tourism, transport and trade and tax policy.

Discussions also focused on recent economic developments in Belize, the country’s strong potential in tourism and agriculture, and the Bank’s 2014 lending program with Belize, consisting of two operations in the areas of road rehabilitation and education totaling $30 million.

The IDB, the main source of multilateral lending for Latin America and the Caribbean, has supported Belize since the country became a borrowing member in 1992. The Bank’s current portfolio in Belize includes five loans for $38 million, supporting agriculture, citizen security, water and sanitation, solid waste and flood mitigation, as well as over $14 million in technical assistance and investment grants. Several new projects are currently in preparation.