belize chamber of commerce & industry taking care of business!
TRANSCRIPT
Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Taking care of Business!Taking care of Business!
Presentation Structure• About Belize• About the BCCI• Our purpose and programs• Recent Initiatives• Financial Performance - 2009
About Belize• Total Population, approx 300K• Several ethnicities, Garifuna, Meztizo,
Mayan, Creole, • 8867 Square Miles (22.9K sq. Kilometres)• Six districts• English/Spanish – English is official
language• Sovereign state since 1981
Economic ActivityGDP – 1B (USD)Main Exports
Sugar, Citrus, Bananas, Agro processing (shrimp, fish,)Tourism and related services (Services =60% of GDP, Tourism = 20%Petroleum and Mining
• Been around since 1920 (90th AGM)• Governed under the BCCI Act, (Chp 308)• Only recognized Employer Organization in
Belize• Association of Associations• Governed by an EC, elected every 2 years
About the BCCI
The Secretariat
Our Raison d’etre
As the voice of the business community, we are the country’s leading advocate for private
enterprise; promoting economic vitality and quality of life in Belize!
Modalities
• To Capacitate– Workshops and
Seminars– Hosting and production
of Trade Statistics– General advisory center– Publications
• To Connect– Business Matching– Export promotion – Investment Promotion– Missions and Trade Fairs– Network Belize
Modalities cont’d
– Advocate and support incentives which encourage more firms to export;
– Advocate for transparency and accountability in the enforcement of rules and regulations governing private enterprise
– Advocate and lobby for responsible fiscal policy;
– Develop strategic partnerships to ensure an integrated approach to the development of private enterprise
• To Champion– Advocate for good
governance and address issues associated with corruption
– Advocate for fairness and transparency in the conduct of business generally;
– Support incubation programs which nurture promising emerging export sectors
Recent Interventions & Upgrades
• National Consultation Council• Severance/Labour revisions• Import Licenses• Belize City Garbage• Crisis in the Health Sector;• Tobacco Labelling• New website• MSME Portal• Business Perspectives as a
communication brand• Expanded Capacity• Conferencing Facilities
MSME Portal
• Financed by Pro-invest under CEDA enveloped;
• Completed April 2010
• Trade and Investment Portal;
• Virtual Meeting Place;
• Webmall Belize;
• www.belize.org
Financial Position
Revenue
Balance Sheet
Contact us!Our mailing address is:63 Regent Street,P.O. Box 29,Belize City, Belize,Central America
If you prefer speaking to someone, please call:Tel: +501-227-3148 and ask for KimFax: +501-227-4984
or apply online at http://www.belize.orgE-mail us at: [email protected]