Beltraide

BECOMING AN ECONOMIC HUB FOR INVESTMENT & TRADE IN CENTRAL AMERICA

BELTRAIDE INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

Tourism is a key industry for economic activity and an invaluable source of foreign exchange for Belize

2 | North America Outlook Issue 17

S P OT L I G H T ON INVESTMENT IN BELIZE

Exploring diversified opportunities in untraditional avenues, we shine a light on Belize as a beacon for domestic and foreign investment Writer: Phoebe Harper | Project Manager: Krisha Canlas

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ocated on the northeast coast of Central America, Belize is a country that is fully alert to the potential of investment as a crucial tool for sustainable economic development, income growth, and employment – both for local and foreign direct investment (FDI).

The exploration of non-traditional agricultural products and manufacturing activities has been a consistent focus of the Belizean government since the end of the 20th century to open the national economy, following a decrease in the commercial logging and timber export activities that had previously been a mainstay of its investment landscape.

Tourism is a key industry for economic activity and an invaluable source of foreign exchange for Belize. This runs parallel to the extensive export of seafood, particularly to the US, with a continued foray into different avenues of aquaculture such as shrimp farming.

Whether domestic or FDI, a healthy enabling environment for business is the cornerstone on which successful investment rests. In Belize, this entails a sound macroeconomic environment, a robust domestic financial system, effective rules of law, good governance, and a suitably skilled workforce to meet capacity demands. In addition, the country fully leverages a host of incentive schemes devised through the government and designed to function as a catalyst for investment.

Complementing these internal initiatives, which specifically target the growth and development of the country’s micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), is Belize’s active involvement in various agreements that maintain an openness to international trade. The country’s myriad investment opportunities are supported by the National Investment Policy and Strategy (NIPS), which enables greater cohesiveness in the investment value chain and a new Fiscal Incentive Act, which provides broad-based incentives to MSMEs as engines for macroeconomic growth; a legislative tool that is geared towards improving the local business climate and streamlining the facilitation of short-, medium-, and long-term opportunities. Through NIPS, Belize confronts investment challenges with an eye to mitigate the existing trade imbalances, the result of a weak manufacturing sector and an export specialization that traditionally relies on products that are vulnerable to the risks posed by climate change, including sugar cane, citrus, and bananas.

As the country pioneers its economic recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Belize stands by its stringent environmental commitments, including a target of reaching net zero, and navigates the exploitation of investment opportunities that do not compromise or threaten the protection of its pristine habitats.

North America Outlook Issue 17 | 3

INNOVATING THE EXPERIENCE OF YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL

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PROUD TO BE FULLY PCI CERTIFIED AND A MEMBER OF THE BELIZE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. As a pioneer of the call center industry in Belize, RCCbpo specializes in business process outsourcing (BPO) providing a range of customer relationship management services to companies in the US and Canada.

RCCbpo’s values are honesty, commitment, and common purpose. We are committed to going beyond expectations, being honest in all interactions, and sharing the same goals to achieve the best outcome.

With a mission to deliver exceptional customer service on behalf of its global clients, RCCbpo is an industry leader with six locations, whose plethora of specialities include:

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· Technical support · Lead generation · Sales and telemarketing · Booking and reservation · Appointment setting · Back office · Financial · Debt collections · Data entry Whatever your call center requirements are, RCCbpo provides the simplest and most cost-effective solutions. Offering top quality, 24/7 service from a skilled workforce, its performance driven culture and analytics ensure your demands are met.

Established in 2005, RCCbpo has grown to over 800+ occupied seats, and as the biggest employer in Belize, its team consists of more than 2,000 co-workers.

RCC serves a wide variety of industries in North America:

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BENEFITS OF BELIZE Belize is conveniently 1,000 miles from Florida, which presents an opportunity for clients to come and meet the RCCbpo team, while enjoying the paradise that the country has to offer.

Eliminating the difficulty of navigating time zones, RCCbpo is not only based in a tourist location, but it is a prime position for US territory availability. The mountain time zone sits in the middle of the Pacific and Central Time Zones.

As businesses continue to expand, there is a growing need to reduce their environmental impact. For the BPO industry it is a crucial time to reflect on it practices and move towards an eco-friendlier and more sustainable operation.

At RCCbpo, digital documentation is the way forward, as the company believes it has a responsibility to mitigate climate change and reduce its carbon footprint.

Digital documentation is a practice that benefits businesses - it reduces paper waste, playing a

RCCBPO IN NUMBERS · 1.7 MILLION CALLS PER MONTH · 720,000 MONTHLY MESSAGES · 288,000 MONTHLY EMAILS

vital role in decreasing deforestation. Additionally, going digital is efficient as files can easily be stored, organized, and accessed.

It also removes the need for physical storage, and saves energy, reducing electricity, water, and fuel.

RCCbpo recognizes the importance of a sustainable future, and by implementing eco-friendly practices, businesses and the planet can benefit.

THE RCCBPO EXPERIENCE Customer service with RCCbpo improves your organization by ensuring valued clients receive the best experience.

Live chat and email support will communicate with customers in real time, leaving a written record of resolved issues.

Technical support provides troubleshooting, product activations, onsite repair appointment scheduling or field technicians.

Data processing and database clean-up will keep information accurate with data imaging, data correction, medical records uploading, mail receipt, document scanning, and address correction/ verification services.

Booking reservations and appointments has never been easier and more reliable. Never miss a booking or appointment again with RCCbpo’s help to qualify, gather, organize, record and execute books within predefined parameters.

Sales and telemarketing with RCCbpo mean assistance with acquisition sales, order taking and fulfillment, lead generation, up sell products, and business-to-business (B2B) sales resolution.

Quality assurance with in-house professionals will verify that procedures and policies are consistently followed, and customer satisfaction is always achieved. Dedicated analysts will ensure processes are standardized and efficient.

Financial and debt collection will ensure that you will receive what you are owed. RCCbpo’s experience in receivables management and loss mitigation means collections are called in efficiently.

As a company committed to the local community and an industry leader, RCCbpo is guaranteed to provide a service to suit your needs with highly skilled and qualified labor.

Providing an ideal combination of low cost, nearshore proximity and native English and Spanish speakers, RCCbpo ensures that it adapts accordingly to the high demands of your customers and business models.

INNOVATING THE EXPERIENCE OF YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL RCCbpo is bringing you the simplest, most cost-effective solutions for all your call center needs. Located in the conveniently nearshore Belize, RCCbpo offers top-quality 24/7 service from skilled native English-speakers. We have over 17 years of experience in providing service, sales and support options for a wide variety of industries located in North America, and Canada. We are proud to be fully PCI certified.

+501 223 5555 rccbpo.com

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BELTRAIDE INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

INTERVIEW:

B E LT R A I D E

Making business happen in Belize, we speak with Dr Leroy Almendarez, Executive Director of BELTRAIDE, as the national statutory body pursues diversification and increased domestic capacity

North America Outlook (NA): Could you talk us through BELTRAIDE’s inception and your current mission?

Dr Leroy Almendarez, Executive Director (LA): BELTRAIDE originally began in 1998 as a trade and investment promotion agency, looking specifically at that landscape as a vehicle to try and enhance those areas. Shortly after, in 2000, it transitioned into what is now formally known as BELTRAIDE, which branched into functional areas such as training and employment, small business development, and exports. We remain focused on investment as the country’s interface, but there is a whole ecosystem that exists under BELTRAIDE. Now 8 | North America Outlook Issue 17

that we are focused on economic recovery, our role has become even more significant. MSMEs are seen as an engine for growth, especially with the current mandates from government, so that has given us greater relevance.

NA: What would you identify as the key industries that are currently transforming the economy in Belize?

LA: There are increasing investment opportunities within offshore and outsourcing, agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, and tourism, and these remain our priority areas. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a very quick decline in gross domestic product

(GDP). But now, it’s rebounding, and agriculture has acted as a substitute in terms of economic activity and income generation for the country.

Business process outsourcing (BPO) is a big focus for us, especially with increased diversity. In fact, there are 28 BPOs operating, employing around 8,000 people with the intention of expanding to 12,000. As a result, there are many avenues available for the expansion of the BPO industry.

The government has enacted various policies, strategies, and put a legal framework in place. Certain legislations have been amended, repealed, and entirely replaced, and we have a national investment policy and strategy

(NIPS) that was passed by the Cabinet last year. This takes a very broad look at some of the major challenges that we face when it comes to doing business in Belize. Skills development is so important when it comes to investment, and we now have a new Fiscal Incentive Act in place since the old version was repealed. This has several incentives for MSMEs that allow for increased productive capacity as we intend to bridge the trade imbalance that exists between exports and imports into the country.

We have also developed an MSME policy and strategy that is all-encompassing with the private and public sectors working very closely together. Ultimately, it’s the government that creates the enabling environment, but it’s North America Outlook Issue 17 | 9

BELTRAIDE INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

the private sector that puts it into business. It’s important to build confidence so that they can invest to expand and find new avenues for business growth. At first, we were mainly focusing on traditional products, but now we’re exploring non-traditional sources of output and that has been working well. This includes resources such as coconuts and seaweed, which previously, we would not have included as part of our industrial basket.

NA: A stable political and business environment is an essential consideration for investment. Is this something that Belize benefits from and how does that advantage translate to potential investors?

LA: We have a level of political tranquility that lends itself to economic activities which are stimulated by the various incentives that we have in place. These don’t cater solely to FDI, but also to local investors since we want to

“WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON INVESTMENT AS THE COUNTRY’S I N T E R FA C E , B U T T H E R E I S A W H O L E E C O S Y S T E M T H AT E X I S T S U N D E R B E LT R A I D E ” – D R L E R OY A L M E N DA R E Z , E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R , B E LT R A I D E

BELTRAIDE believes in the green economy and the need to create jobs in areas such as aquiculture and renewable energy

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encourage a landscape of joint ventures (JVs) and possible mergers. These are just some of the avenues available to us to expand. Tourism is one such area where there have been several investments, and it’s the same with the blue economy. We have now segregated our economy into blue, green, and orange, because the creative industry is an area where previously, we hadn’t put enough effort into tracking its wealth contribution to the country. There is now a direct focus on how MSMEs can benefit from incentives and programs that will allow them to generate greater economic activity.

NA: How is Belize navigating the global labor shortage across many industries? Would you say the country benefits from a skilled workforce?

LA: Although this is certainly something that we benefit from, there is still a great need to focus on this area. It has never been more important for academia to become aligned with industry, since at the end of the day, this is where skill development should come from. Our academic institutions need to understand the demands that have been created, and the skills required to meet them. This could be anything from a bachelor’s degree to an initiative that simply facilitates upskilling. We want the labor force to have the opportunity for upward mobility across all industries, so that they can progress through to the upper echelons of the value chain.

https://bts.gov.bz

MOVING TOWARDS A DIGITAL TAX ADMINISTRATION: YOUR CONTRIBUTION, OUR DEVELOPMENT A Paperless Department Meeting your technological needs Increase of Online Presence Use of Modern Systems

The Belize Tax Service Department (BTSD) is moving forward to establish a modern tax administration that that will redesign its business model process and procedures to achieve alignment with current good practices and standards of other tax administrations within the region.

With the launch of the Revenue Management System (RMS) and the Integrated Revenue Information System (IRIS), BTSD is one step closer to becoming a paperless department.

The Modernization of the Belize Tax Service Department aims at supporting an atmosphere of ease of doing business in Belize that will build economic growth and sustainability, increase compliance and, provide a fair and transparent tax environment.

Advancing the country’s tourism experience, we speak with the Belize Tourism Board.

Can you tell us about the origins and history of the tourism board?

What kind of traveler does Belize mostly cater to?

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) was established in 1990, as a direct result of the growing needs of the industry and its documented and projected impact on Belize’s economy at the time. Prior to that, Belize gained Independence from Britain in 1981 and around that time tourism had already begun to profit the local and commercial sectors of the country. As Belize became known for its pristine attractions and kaleidoscopic cultures and cuisine, the industry grew.

Today, Belize has gone from being mother nature’s best kept secret to a top recreational and adventure destination within the Caribbean region, and our unique offerings continue to be recognized on the international stage.

Belize caters to a wide array of travelers but our most notable visitors range from the beach seekers (those wishing to dive and explore the marine ecosystem or just relax on the beach side) to those who wish to explore inland adventurous opportunities. Belize has also been recipient to numerous group trips including religious affiliated groups, university students on field trips and families. More and more, the destination is also being recognized by those seeking to immerse themselves in local cultures, music and food.

Tourism continues to play a fundamental role in Belize’s GDP growth; this realization is a confirmation of the tourism industry’s significance and potential for further sustainable growth and investment.

Looking ahead, what are the board’s key priorities and targets for the next 12 months?

We are committed to the overall upgrade of the sector, positioning Belize as a premium eco-sustainable destination and investing in the development of our people. The BTB recently rolled out its Elevate Training Program, aimed at improving service delivery and security standards across the industry.

In terms of strategic policy development, Belize’s tourism sector is experiencing dynamic growth. As such, the completion of the National Sustainable Tourism Master Plan in 2023 will ensure that adequate policies and legislation are in place to provide guidance to the industry and preserve our product and environment.

An enhanced tourism product centered on conservation initiatives is leading the change for transformation in Belize.

We look to focus on the development of our orange economy, partnerships with local NGOs to develop tourism trails and attractions, as well as increased sustainable practices employed by hotels and resorts.

We are also looking to gain continued

sector support for increased industry resilience regarding natural disasters and economic shocks. Significant insight has been gained throughout the last three years to ensure that mechanisms are in place for the recovery of the industry post shock, as well as strategic alliances with local financial institutions to make emergency finances available in the form of grants and low interest loans.

What trends have you identified recently within the travel and tourism industry?

Belize continues to be a pioneer in sustainable tourism, with over 40 percent of our land and marine environment in protected status. This is evidenced by our recent Blue Bond initiative, which resulted in a debt swap for nature conservation, as well as our commitment to the Bonn Challenge which will increase our current acreage of littoral and riparian forests.

We continue to see growth in experiential tourism, with adventurebased eco-tourism topping the list.

We are renowned for diving, our archaeological sites, and an expansive underground cave network. Essentially, we are a melting pot of cultures, and our communities have given birth to engaging experiences where individuals

are able to explore unique hiking trails, discover hidden waterfalls and immerse in all aspects of our culture and gastronomy.

Festival tourism has also begun to gain a foothold, with products such as the Chocolate Festival of Belize, our Annual Lobster Festival, and the recent addition of the Belize International Music and Food Festival, creating diverse experiences for visitors.

Could you identify some recent challenges faced within the industry and how the board has overcome and dealt with these?

relaxation and is rich in experiences such as tucked-away caves, ancient archaeological sites, cultural experiences, and paradisiacal islands off the coast. Toledo offers an adventure for every type of traveler.

But beyond our most popular visited locations such as San Pedro Town in Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Hopkins, and Placencia, emerging destinations such as the Sarteneja (the Corozal Bay) and the Gales Point Manatee regions are poised for growth due to new highways now being built to connect these destinations for easy access.

One challenge faced is the lack of direct flights from Europe. Currently, the European market can connect through the US, Cancun and Panama. Additional connections are available from major cities such as Roatan, San Salvador, San Pedro Sula and Guatemala City, which alleviate connectivity challenges. A fixed charter service or dedicated airline will greatly assist in bridging the gap for European connectivity.

Another challenge is the need to expand and upgrade facilities at our international airport. Our load capacity exceeds 90 percent and requires infrastructural upgrade and expansion. To meet the increased demand, the airport concession group will be investing BZD200 million in a three-phase renovation and expansion process. The project includes the addition of six new aprons, a multi-level terminal expansion, enhanced safety and security requirements, and the addition of an FBO facility.

What is the most underrated spot or best-kept secret location for tourists and visitors that the board would recommend?

Toledo is a hidden gem in Southern Belize. The region is brimming with tradition, culture, serenity, and

www.belizetourismboard.org

BELTRAIDE INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

In terms of the green economy, we need the creation of green jobs in areas such as aquaculture, and renewable energy. Belize is a country that is committed to net zero, and we are dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint in the era of climate change. We are focusing on renewable energy sources, since this is what we primarily use in Belize.

We still import fossil fuels from Mexico, but we are hoping to bridge that gap with renewable sources and ultimately become a net exporter of renewable energy. Furthermore, there are employment opportunities in the blue economy, where we are focused on our fisheries, aquaculture, and mariculture both onshore and offshore. Under the orange economy, we are placing a greater emphasis on business methodologies and for those businesses to understand that the more activities that are generated, everyone can find a niche. This is how we have segregated our economy to be able to identify the skills being demanded by the different industries.

NA: How does Belize maintain an openness to trade?

Flags of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)

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LA: The Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) is a big advantage for us as an expansion of The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), since it includes the Dominican Republic as well. CARICOM is key, and we engage through that scheme as a signatory to the CARICOM single market and economy (CSME).

Belize holds the position of Deputy Chair of Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA), and I currently occupy the post of Deputy Chair for Belize. When we sit and plan, we look at the region in terms of trade, investment, and how we can develop best practices when we analyze our projects and try to understand how we can make our space more competitive. These forums provide us with a greater opportunity to sell these projects by interacting with international trade bodies. We have been involved with Saudi Arabia and two conferences held in Dubai. This allowed us to convene meetings with potential investors, looking at our rate of return and the entire investment banking process.

CARIFORUM is very beneficial to us, since not all countries are on the same level. Belize has also been a

BELTRAIDE INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

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member of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) for quite some time, and that continues to provide us with benefits, alongside the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA).

Outside of the Caribbean, we engage in partial scope agreements (PSAs). As an example, we have an existing agreement with Guatemala, and have been negotiating to try and expand that arrangement. We are also currently in discussions with Mexico, and we have an economic cooperation agreement in place with Taiwan. The latter is extremely beneficial as Taiwan looks to import more seafood.

Central America is a huge market for us, since Belize is known as the bridge between Central America and the Caribbean. We seek to bridge CARICOM and Central

America. Being both English and Spanish speaking, we can take advantage of different possible opportunities in terms of trade and investment. Under CSME, you can enjoy the free movement of trade, goods, and people. Furthermore, we have political integration with Central America, with an eye towards economic integration. We are also looking to our private sector to ensure that, with any negotiation or agreement that is formalized, we have the availability to provide the necessary product or commodity, since these arrangements are typically quota driven.

There are a lot of markets for us to explore, but it means that domestically, we need to increase our export productive capacity. The environment for that is being created, and so we need to continue building confidence with the private sector by reducing the cost of doing business as much as possible. By allowing them to increase capacity, we can then explore other markets available with the suite of products to allow us to play in those areas.

NA: How does BELTRAIDE support the development of local women in business?

LA: Belize benefits from a seat at SICA in Central America.

In fact, the country currently occupies the presidency pro-tempore. There are several bodies under SICA, one of which I preside over, CENPROMYPE, that oversees North America Outlook Issue 17 | 15

Central American countries. Here, we have been discussing methodologies and opportunities to create greater economic activity through diversification in Central America as well.

Through this, we adopted an initiative called the Female Entrepreneurship Program (FEP), where we provide training in leadership and business methodology. This guides them through how to access the market with a product or service and how to brand it. So far, we have had four cohorts of graduates, and it is a methodology that has been catching on. We have also partnered with Taiwan and through this, we have been able to provide even greater opportunities. We recently concluded the ‘MSME Roadshow’, where we went to 10 different locations to launch pop-up shops that local women could get involved in to bring greater awareness for those in the area on what is being produced.

Recently, we also launched an incubator, guiding women in business on how to develop a start-up, understand how a business works, and how that business can interact with others. We have also launched a solar-powered ICUBE which has been converted into a mobile office and travels across the country to reduce the cost for MSMEs that cannot afford to come to us, and that way we can interact with them. We are also setting up digital connect centers in rural areas of the country, where there are many single mothers who work from home, so they can go to that location and access the information they require. We are bridging the digital divide, since the COVID-19 pandemic showed us the importance of being connected digitally.

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NA: Finally, how do you forecast the investment landscape developing across Belize over the next five years?

LA: Firstly, thanks to the expansion of the fiscal incentive, those who were operating under the old model have now transitioned. As a result, they now benefit from additional incentives, customs duty, excise duty, replacement duty and in some cases, business tax. The process has now been shortened, so it is simpler for foreign direct investors. We also have a designated processing area and are becoming far more technologically minded. We have broadened the landscape of incentives that potential investors will be able to benefit from over the next five years and I forecast exponential growth in certain areas. This particularly applies to renewable energy, agriculture, agro-processing, tourism, and BPO. In addition, there are the non-traditional areas that have risen to the fore, including seaweed farming, where we are seeing traditional fish farmers transition to that model.

We are exploring and taking full advantage of the natural endowments that we have, but in a way that has no potential for costly damage to the environment. Whatever we do, we create an equilibrium between investment and making sure that our environment is protected.

BELTRAIDE Tel: (501) 880 – 3737 / 0137 beltraide@belizeinvest.org.bz www.beltraide.bz

BELTRAIDE INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

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North America Outlook Issue 17 | 17

BECOMING AN ECONOMIC HUB FOR INVESTMENT & TRADE IN CENTRAL AMERICA

BELTRAIDE Tel: (501) 880 – 3737 / 0137 beltraide@belizeinvest.org.bz www.beltraide.bz

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