On Monday, October 23rd, 2017, The Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) and The Organization of American States (OAS) launched The Global Value Chain Workshop.
This four-day workshop is designed to support the initiative, “Small Business Development Center Model” led by OAS. It aims to provide participants with insights into how to develop effective policies to increase Caribbean countries’ competitiveness in these chains at the local, regional and global levels. Continue reading “BELTRAIDE and OAS launch Global Value Chain Workshop”→
SBDCBelize in partnership with Young Americas Business Trust (YABT), Organization of American States (OAS), Ministry of MASHAV – Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem and The Golda Meir Mount Camel International Training Centre (MCTC) coordinated a five day Business Lab focused on Intellectual Properties and Commercialization of Creative Industries held from November 9th to November 13th, 2015 at the Belize Training and Employment Centre (BTEC) Building located in Freetown Road, ITVET Compound, Belize City.
The objective of this workshop is to provide tools and skills to national institutions that implement economic development programs by providing potential local trainers and facilitators with a flexible and effective methodology to create a heightened awareness among nationals and to explore opportunities along with the related steps to start up their business. Additionally, it will focus on providing participants with hands on training and helping them acquire tools that will aid them in the development of innovative ideas and their implementation.
The workshop opened on Monday, 9th November at 8:00am sharp at BTEC, with remarks from Ambassador Orem Bar El, Ambassador of Israel to Belize and El Salvador and Ambassador Nestor Mendez, the Chair of the Inter-American Council for InteAS.
The media was invited to attend the opening ceremonies and can also drop by during the four-day workshop for coverage of the event.
On September 17, 2015, the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE), in collaboration with the University of Belize held the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of a new facility: Belize Enterprise and Innovation Institute (BEI2).
The building will be located on University of Belize’s Faculty of Management and Social Sciences campus in Belize City and will house two of BELTRAIDE’s technical units: SBDC Belize an Export Belize. It is designed to nurture entrepreneurship and innovation and strengthen Belize’s enterprise competitiveness.
The building will accommodate a series of meeting rooms, small business incubators as well as a resource centre. The BEI2 is the first government facility to incorporate both Green and SMART technologies which will be beneficial in promoting environmental conservation as well as encouraging the use of modern technologies to facilitate enterprise and innovation.
At the launch a memorandum of Understanding was signed between BELTRAIDE and the University of Belize as a symbol of an extended partnership. Signing on behalf of UB was Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Harrison Pilgrim and on behalf of BELTRAIDE was CEO in the Ministry of Trade, Investment Promotion, Private Sector Development and Consumer Protection, Michael Singh, other signatories included: Leija Melanie Gideon, Manager of Enterprise and Innovation, BELTRAIDE and President of UB, Alan Slusher.
The facility is being designed by Hilberto Riverol Jr.
BELTRAIDE wants to sincerely thank the US Mission to the OAS, the OAS and University of Texas at San Antonio for all their kind assistance and guidance over the last three years. Without their assistance, BELTRAIDE would not be able to achieve all its successes under its SBDCBelize and EXPORTBelize units and have this very notable milestone of BEI2 groundbreaking.
(L-R) Alan Slusher, President of the University of Belize, Dr. Bernard Watler, Dean Faculty of management & Social Science, Melanie Gideon , Manager Enterprise & Innovation, CEO Min. of Trade,Investment Promotion, Private Sector Development & Consumer ProtectionCEO , Ministry of Trade , Investment Promotion, Private Sector Development and Consumer Protection
In Belize, the small business community, known as MSME-(Micro, Small, and Medium enterprises) is a vital sector for economic development. It is estimated that MSMEs account for over 70% of main export crops and an even higher percentage of domestic food crops. It is within this spectrum that the Government of Belize has strengthened its focus on supporting the development of the MSME Sector.
How is the SBDC beneficial to you?
The provision of long term one-on-one assistance to SBDC clients is of priority to us. You can receive assistance from a counselor at any point in your business operation. The technical trainings and advisory services provide YOU, our valued SBDC client, with technical information at workshops, and ensured implementation through personal follow up advice from a counselor to answer any questions.
According to Channel 7 News Belize, “For months – we’ve been telling you all about Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises – or MSME’s as they are called.
Throughout the developing world – efforts are being made to grow these enterprises because they are seen as the building blocks of economic growth.
Today, a great leap forward was made the opening of the Small Business Development Center.
The center is located at the University of Belize Faculty of Business in West Landivar.
It’s open – but the formal opening could not be held there – because like the businesses it hopes to serve – the center is….shall we say, micro.
But it’s got a mighty bog job to do and the Deputy Executive Director of Beltraide who is spearheading the effort told us if you think your business qualifies, you should come in.”
belizeinvest.net 