Belize Eyes El Salvador as New Market for Local Farm Products

Belize is working on opening a new export route that would send local agricultural products through Guatemala and into El Salvador, following talks between senior officials from both countries.

Agriculture Minister Rodwell Ferguson met with his Guatemalan counterparts this week to iron out the logistics of moving containers of Belizean goods through Guatemala in transit to El Salvador. The discussions were described as “cordial” and are seen as a key step toward making the route operational.

A formal agreement is expected to be signed by the end of April between Belize’s Ministry of Agriculture and El Salvador, through its ambassador in Belize, which will detail the exact products that will be covered.

In a press release, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and New Growth Industries said the push is part of a broader effort by the ministry to find new markets for Belizean farmers and producers. 

“El Salvador is one of our neighbouring countries that imports much of their food products and discussions on markets for Belizean food products with them have been very productive so far,” the release stated.