BELIZE Unanimously Reelected Deputy Chair of Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA)
Belmopan, Cayo – November 1st, 2023 – Between October 18th and 27th, 2023, Dr. Leroy Almendarez, Executive Director of the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE), attended strategic discussions in Jamaica and The Bahamas, to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, export and investment.
On October 18th and 19th, Dr. Almendarez participated in the “Sub-Regional Policy Dialogue: Ecosystems of Entrepreneurship and Innovation” hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The Executive Director had two opportunities to present. In his first panel, He gave the Caribbean perspective under the topic “Promoting Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystems: Success Factors and Lessons Learned,” and he also presented on “Innovation for Inclusion – A Conversation on Instruments and Result” with the focus of his presentation being “Social Innovation in Belize.” The overall purpose of the dialogue was to engage Caribbean policymakers, and private sector stakeholders in a strategic discussion on how to foster and strengthen their local eco-systems comprised of universities, public, private and non-profit service providers, private sector investors, and governments. These eco-systems expose new businesses to world market trends and innovative. digital technology. The dynamism of these eco-systems attracts highly skilled technical and entrepreneurial talent.
On October 23rd to 25th, 2023, Dr. Almendarez attended the Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) 2023 in The Bahamas, hosted by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) under the theme “A Bold New Caribbean”. The forum brought together exporters and investors from forty (40) countries across CARIFORUM and North America, to discuss challenges and opportunities for exporting and investing in priority areas, utilizing a collaborative approach for greater market access. Dr. Almendarez presented on Belize's investment climate and the support that the Government of Belize provides to foreign and local investors. On Thursday October 26th, in elections conducted by the Director General of CARIFORUM, Belize, represented by Dr. Almendarez, was unanimously re-elected Deputy Chairperson of CEDA.
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