WASHINGTON, CMC – The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) says it has approved the 2026-2030 country strategy for Belize aimed at boosting growth and private-sector investment.
The Washington-based financial institution said that, aligned with Belize’s National Development Plan “Plan Belize 2.0”, the strategy aims to support sustained inclusive growth and fiscal stability.
“On the backdrop of a strong performance supported by fiscal consolidation and natural-capital-based sectors–tourism, agriculture, and marine industries, the new strategy prioritizes strengthening the blue economy as a key engine of competitiveness and long – term growth in Belize,” the IDB said.
Belize’s Prime Minister John Briceño said that the new IDB country strategy supports “our vision under Plan Belize 2.0 to build a more resilient and inclusive Belize.
“It advances our long-term goals for universal access to essential services, climate-resilient growth, and sustainable opportunity for all Belizeans,” he added.
The IDB said the strategy positions Belize to address three interconnected priorities: Enhancing Institutional Capacity, Strengthening Human Capital, and Boosting Private-Sector Competitiveness.
The IDB said that enhancing institutional capacity will strengthen fiscal sustainability by improving tax administration, modernizing public financial management, advancing digital government, and reinforcing public-private partnership frameworks.
Strengthening Human Capital addresses structural gaps in education and skills by scaling STEAM education, modernizing vocational education and training (TVET), and reducing skills mismatches in the labor market, the IDB said.
It said Boosting Private Sector Competitiveness seeks to invest in resilient energy infrastructure and pursue universal access to electricity while expanding access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The IDB said a core component of the strategy is the protection of Belize’s reef ecosystem, through a national water and sanitation programme, ensuring the sustainability of tourism and agro-industries, the backbone of the country’s growth.
“This new country strategy represents IDB Group’s commitment to supporting Belize’s growth,” said Karla González, IDB Group Country Representative for Belize.
“The ‘ridge-to-reef’ approach is at the center of the strategy, ensuring the creation of opportunities for the people of Belize. By focusing on its natural capital as the motor for prosperity, Belize’s blue economy can boost the livelihoods of all Belizeans,” she added.
The IDB said the strategy’s focus on Belize’s blue and green economy recognizes the country’s “unique position as a nation with significant marine resources and biodiversity, positioning sustainable economic growth at the intersection of environmental stewardship and economic opportunity.”
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