Belize’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Marconi Leal Jr., led the country’s delegation at CARICOM’s 60th Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) meeting held June 10–11 in Georgetown, Guyana.
Key topics included advancing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), free movement of skilled workers, trade in goods like grains and citrus juice, and regional standards on hazardous chemicals.
Belize also pushed for progress on a Partial Scope Agreement with El Salvador. Minister Leal, along with Foreign Trade Director General Gayle Miller-Garnett and Deputy Director Tricia Gideon, also met with leaders from the newly launched World Trade Center in Guyana to explore trade and investment opportunities.
The team invited regional partners to the upcoming Belize Invest Summit in September.