PM Briceno returns from World Climate Industry Expo

Today, Prime Minister John Briceño and the Belizean delegation returned to the country after participating in the World Climate Industry Expo ─ Leaders’ Summit in Busan, South Korea. During the visit, PM Briceno delivered the keynote address at the Leaders’ Summit and held a bilateral meeting with South Korea’s Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. Briceño requested South Korea’s support for Belize’s application for eligibility to join the World Bank’s International Development Association. And, according to him, once Belize’s application is successful the country will be able to benefit from grants and concessionary financing for climate finance projects. 

Hon. John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “Through that agency you have access to lots of grants and very very low concessionary financing for climate programs, for climate projects that countries want to do. Unfortunately Belize the United Nations looks at Belize as an Island State but the World Bank doesn’t and so what we’ve been doing we’ve been lobbying with different countries, we’ve lobbied with many countries and we lobbied with the foreign minister from South Korea and also the Prime Minister and they all promised that they’re going to support our efforts. Hopefully when that goes to the World Bank either November of December we hope that we can get enough support that Belize can now become eligible to access those funds.”

PM Briceno also stated that Belize is looking to capitalize on joining the Korean Economic Development Co-operation Fund. He explained that through the fund the government will be able to benefit from increased trade opportunities.

Hon. John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “The Republic of Korea wants to have closer ties with Belize. They’re talking about the possibility of opening up an office in Belize so that we can then have access to funding from their development fund and so they’ve pointed out now that they’ve given us a million dollars for IT that can be used for Economic Development, Foreign Affairs and I think agriculture and some other ministry and they’ve now agreed to make another $3 million dollars available to help strengthen the SIB.”

We’ll have more on the PM’s trip to the Republic of South Korea later on in our newscast.