Belize and Mexico Meet to Boost Cross-Border Cooperation

From tackling gender-based violence to addressing beach erosion and even introducing a border pass for residents of five southern Mexican states, the meeting was all about strengthening cross-border cooperation. But that’s not all. The discussions also opened the door to developing a joint policy aimed at boosting and coordinating investment between the two regions, a move that could mean big things for both Belize and Mexico. Minister of Human Development, Thea Garcia-Ramirez, was part of the talks. Today, she shared more on what was discussed and what it could mean for future collaboration.

 

Thea Garcia-Ramirez, Minister of Human Development

“What needs to be  done now is to ensure that we are able to have a framework under which all of these things can happen.  I’m also the chairperson of the Corozal Think Tank and we have several initiatives and one of the things that we have really worked with the Ministry of Investment to do is to reduce the hurdles for Mexican nationals to come across the border to visit. Recently Cabinet has approved for the discontinuation of a wide variety of fees. I think they’re exempt now from exit fees and so on and so forth to make it easier for Mexicans to visit Belize. And that is ongoing. Now, Cabinet has also approved the issuance and the budget so that to make to make it possible for them to receive a card that will be free of charge to Mexican nationals from the five Southern most states. So that is Quintero, Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatan, and Campeche. So they will be able to come in and get a card that will allow them to travel throughout the country of Belize for seven days. And so we are expecting and we are hopeful that making travel easier for them will allow them to visit. There’s just about one point two million visitors. Most of them Mexican to the free zone every year. And if we can get just a fraction of that into Belize, that will be very good.”