Belize Bets on Tech with Talent Up Launch

Belize is making a bold push into the digital economy. Today, government and international partners launched Talent Up Belize, a program aimed at training young people with in-demand tech skills and opening doors to higher-paying jobs. With a youthful population, leaders say the initiative could transform the workforce, boost innovation, and help Belize compete globally.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“It’s about positioning Belize for the future by investing in our people, strengthening our workforce, expanding opportunities and ensuring Belize remains competitive in an increasingly digital and technologically driven global economy. Around the globe, economies are being reshaped by automation, artificial intelligence – I know some people back there are making fun of me about artificial intelligence, that I need to know more about artificial intelligence but that’s why we have the young people who can teach we like myself. Cloud computing, cyber security and digital innovation. According to global estimates, almost sixty percent of all employees will require reskilling by 2027, that’s next year, 2027, due to the pace of technological advancements. And at the same time, digital and technology related jobs continues to be amongst the fastest growing professions globally.”

 

Karla Gonzalez, Representative, IDB

 “The IDB Country Strategy for the next four years in Belize aims two key outcomes, among them, Belizean’s readiness and access to the digital market and the government digital transformation. These are priorities reflected in the IDB’s ongoing support to Belize’s BPO sector, an industry that employs approximately twenty thousand Belizeans. Last week the Cabinet approved the launch of the Global Digital Service and today Talent Up brings an additional layer to that effort by helping building the digital skills needed for the sector’s next stage of growth.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño says investing in people and technology is key to securing Belize’s place in an increasingly competitive global economy.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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