President of Guyana Departs Belize, Economic Partnerships Advanced

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali departed Belize today, bringing to a close a State Visit that saw Belize and Guyana deepen bilateral ties through concrete economic engagement and regional cooperation.  Yesterday, Prime Minister John Briceño joined President Ali and his delegation on a series of courtesy visits to major agro-industrial and manufacturing hubs in the Cayo District, following a joint sitting of the National Assembly. The tour underscored the Briceño administration’s push to translate regional partnerships into tangible economic opportunities for Belizeans. The delegation first visited Santander Sugar Limited, where both leaders participated in the ceremonial groundbreaking for the Caribbean Sugar Refinery, a flagship Belize-Guyana initiative aimed at expanding value-added sugar production, boosting exports, and creating jobs. Government officials say the project aligns with Belize’s broader strategy to strengthen agro-processing and regional food security. From there, the tour moved to Bel-Car in Spanish Lookout, where discussions focused on beans, grains, refined cornmeal, and opportunities to expand access to Caribbean markets. The delegation then visited Quality Poultry Products, reviewing factory operations and innovation within the poultry sector, followed by Western Dairies, where dairy processing and nationwide distribution were highlighted as key pillars of food security and economic resilience.  The on-the-ground engagements complemented the formal conclusion of several Memoranda of Understanding between Belize and Guyana, covering cooperation in defence and security, education and skills development, tourism, digital transformation, including artificial intelligence, and broader economic engagement. Both governments emphasized that the MoUs are non-binding frameworks designed to deliver practical benefits while promoting regional stability, sustainable development, and people-to-people ties in keeping with CARICOM obligations.  Belize also confirmed its intention to join the Global Biodiversity Alliance, signaling continued environmental leadership alongside economic growth as the two countries advance a shared Caribbean development agenda.