By: Omar Silva

Editor: National Perspective Bz – Digital 2024

www.nationalperspectivebz.com

Belize City: Tuesday 10th December 2024

Belize's Minister of Agriculture, Hon. José Abelardo Mai, recently met with Mexico's newly appointed Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Julio Berdegué Sacristán, in Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico, to address key agricultural trade and development issues. The discussions, held on December 8, focused on enhancing trade relations and tackling shared challenges, marking a significant step forward in the partnership between the two neighboring nations.

Aiming for Balance in Trade

Minister Mai emphasized the substantial trade imbalance between the countries, with Belize exporting only $8–$10 million worth of goods to Mexico annually, compared to over $300 million in imports from Mexico. To address this disparity, Belize is exploring opportunities to expand its export offerings.

One such initiative discussed was the export of green coconuts with husks to Mexico, primarily to the state of Quintana Roo. Dr. Berdegué committed to expediting the risk assessment process to facilitate this trade. Belize expects to export up to five million green coconuts annually in the coming years, signaling a promising development for the country's agricultural sector.

Fighting the New World Screwworm

A pressing topic of the meeting was Belize’s success in keeping the New World Screwworm (NWS) at bay. Minister Mai detailed Belize's proactive measures, including:

• A robust traceability system with cattle tags and movement permits.
• Public education campaigns and on-farm surveillance.
• Strict inspection protocols and 24-hour quarantine measures at informal border points.

Dr. Berdegué lauded Belize's efforts, reaffirming Mexico’s commitment to close collaboration to manage and prevent the spread of NWS, a shared regional concern.

Mexico’s Commitment to Belizean Cattle

The meeting’s highlight was Dr. Berdegué’s unequivocal endorsement of Belizean cattle exports. “Mexico is interested in importing from Belize every single head of cattle that is legally exported and complies with the technical protocols to ensure sanitization standards. Everything that you can send us, we will receive it very gladly,” he stated.

The two officials also discussed reducing costs and technical barriers to formalize and increase cattle trade. This commitment is expected to enhance economic opportunities for Belizean cattle farmers and strengthen cross-border trade.

Belizean Delegation’s Role

Minister Mai was accompanied by a delegation including Hugh O’Brien, his Chief Advisor; Jaime Briceño, Belize’s Trade Ambassador to Mexico; and Abram Garcia, representing Belize’s coconut industry. The visit, spanning from December 8 to December 10, underscores Belize’s dedication to deepening agricultural ties with its northern neighbor.

A New Chapter in Regional Cooperation

This high-level dialogue represents a significant step toward a more balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship between Belize and Mexico. By addressing shared challenges such as sanitary protocols and market access, both nations reaffirm their commitment to regional cooperation and economic growth.

Belizeans can look forward to the potential expansion of agricultural exports, which promises to bring much-needed economic diversification and prosperity to the nation.