BTB LAUNCHES DISTRICT PRE – FESTIVAL TOURS AHEAD of BELIZE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC AND FOOD FESTIVAL 2.0

Belize City Belize, March 27th, 2023: On Friday March 24, 2023 the Alejo Beni Park in Dangriga was transformed into a concert village for the launch of the Belize International Music and Food Festival (BIMFF)

2.0 Pre Festival Tour. The event, held in partnership with the Dangriga Town Council, marked the first in a series of free events designed to scout and place Belize’s top talents as part of the lineup for the upcoming BIMFF 2.0 which takes place on July 29th and 30th at the Marion Jones Sports Complex in Belize City.

Over twenty (20) local performers and food vendors turned up in Dangriga for a display of talent which ended with winners being selected from the artist/ entertainer, disc jockey and food categories. Attendees were treated to displays from the likes of the Urawani C Dance Group, Adrian “Doc” Martinez, Top Flight, Papa John & YG and food from Dangriga’s “kulcha” base such as Cims Enterprise, Ma –K’s Diner, S & J’s Kitchen and Stone Kraab Grill. The crowd was also treated to an energetic performance by Dangriga’s very own Sweet Pain Band.

The crowd was entertained by MC William Neal throughout the night and at the end of judging, three persons were awarded winners and went home with cash prizes, automatic placement as participants for BIMFF 2.0 in July, as well as recording studio time courtesy of The Reef Recording Studio in Belize City.

The Festival tour will be staged over the next 14 weeks in each district and Caye Caulker. Persons wishing to audition for the major event or participate as a food vendor are able to sign up for the events listed below via the following links:

Corozal - March 31st, 2023

Orange Walk – April 15th, 2023

Punta Gorda – April 29th, 2023

San Ignacio/ Santa Elena –May 13th, 2023

Belize

Caye Caulker – May 27th,2023

Belize City – June 17th, 2023

Request For Expression Of Interest

March 29, 2023 - Today, the Investment Policy and Compliance Unit (IPCU) in the Ministry of Investment organized a consultation with companies that benefit from the Designated Processing Areas (DPA) Act. The objective of the consultation was to apprise the private sector stakeholders of the proposed amendments.

Over 25 companies were present and voiced their support for amendments being contemplated to the DPA Act and Regulations. The DPA companies employ approximately 9,000 persons across the various priority sectors; these companies export $181 million in goods and services. Additionally, the companies were introduced to and amenable to new regulations specifically for aquaculture, global digital services, and the special border entertainment zone under the DPA. The consultation resulted in support from the private sector representatives for the amendments to improve export-led growth.

Present at the consultation were the CEO of the Office of the Prime Minister and Investment, the Executive Director of BELTRAIDE, the Executive Director of the Economic Development Council, the Chairman of the Designated Processing Areas Committee, a Crown Council in the Legislative Drafting Unit of the Attorney General’s Ministry, and the Director of the IPCU.

Companies in the national priority sectors of agro-processing, aquaculture, manufacturing, global digital services, DPA developers, and the proposed Border Entertainment Zone were represented.

The US Government-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has selected Belize as one of only two countries in the world for a five-year government to government grant to fund a program aimed at reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth.

The Government of Belize (GOB) through the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment, have contracted a team of individual consultants to form a Compact Development Team in Belize that will work together with a U.S.-based MCC Team to conduct a diagnosis of the constraints to economic growth, prepare concept notes, develop project proposals, and plan for project implementation.

The Belize Compact Development Team will be led by a National Coordinator who will manage the team, engage key stakeholders across all sectors, and bear responsibility for the overall performance and work quality of the team. The Electricity Sector Specialist will be a member of BCDT and will work closely with the Program Coordinator and other members of the BCDT as well as the MCC team to develop the Electricity Project following the MCC’s Investment Criteria

Vacant Post

Remuneration: Competitive salary and benefits are offered, commensurate with academic level, work experience and other relevant strengths of the winning candidate.

Kindly follow the below link for further details https://med.gov.bz/

Interested candidates are requested to submit ONE PDF File that shall include: a) Letter of Interest indicating the post being applied for; b) the curriculum vitae, c) copies of university degrees, and d) the names of 3 references.

Subsequently the top 3 applicants for the post will be interviewed.

Deadline for application is 14 April at 4:00pm. Application can be sent via email to: econdev@med.gov.bz or hand delivered to the address indicated below:

Chief Executive Officer

Ministry of Economic Development

Sir Edney Cain Building

Ground Floor, Right Wing

Belmopan City, Belize C.A.

Any request for clarification should be sent via email no later than 20 April 2023. Responses will be provided within three days.