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Belize’s New Drone Regulations: What Businesses and Operators Need to Know
The Belize Department of Civil Aviation (BDCA) is currently consulting on a new regulatory framework for drone operations in Belize. The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has reviewed the proposed Operational Directive and prepared this summary to help members and the wider business community understand the key changes, assess how they may be…
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Belize Fuel Price Tracker
Last Updated on May 28, 2026 Belize’s fuel prices are regulated by the Government of Belize. The Ministry of Finance previously published detailed pump price breakdowns, but discontinued publication of the full composition breakdown in September 2023. The Ministry resumed publication of fuel pump price information on its website as of May 2026. This dashboard…
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GST-Free Weekends in December
Members are reminded to stay informed about the Government of Belize’s announcement of two GST-free weekends on December 14–15 and December 21–22. During these dates, goods normally subject to the standard 12.5% GST will be exempt, with some exclusions such as fuel, alcohol, cigarettes, firearms, and vehicles. Businesses and consumers alike are encouraged to review…
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A Business’s Guide to the Trade Licensing Act, 2024
This guide provides general information only and should not be taken as legal advice. Businesses should consult the full Trade Licensing Act or seek professional guidance for specific cases. What is a Trade License? A trade license is a fee that businesses pay to their local municipality or licensing board in order to legally operate.…
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A Quick Look at the Government’s Budget for 2024/25
Budgeting and proper internal controls are important for any organization; for the government, this is even more so. Proper internal controls help to ensure the reliability of financial reporting, the effectiveness and efficiency of operations, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. As part of its good governance mandate, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and…
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Caribbean Says No to OWL at CROSQ- What Happens Now?
At the December 2023 voting, the Draft Standard failed to garner the 75% of votes in favor for the standard to be adopted, making it the second time the Standard failed to meet the requirement for adoption.
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What Do Port Strikes Cost You?
Disruptions at the Port of Belize might appear normal, given their frequency over the last 5 years. In early March, an ongoing labour dispute between the Stevedores and the Port of Belize resulted in another disruption at the Port, where Stevedores did not load and unload ships destined for Belize. Looking beyond the intricacies of…
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Right to Privacy for Businesses upheld by the High Court
The High Court of Belize in February handed down a judgment in the case Belize Sugar Industries Ltd v The Attorney General of Belize & others which dealt with an application by BSI challenging the constitutionality of the Sugar Industry (Import/Export) Regulations, 2023. In the judgment handed down by Justice Goonetilleke, it was determined that…
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Do Wages Drive FDI?
What is FDI? Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) occurs when an investor in one economy establishes a lasting interest in another and gains a significant degree of ownership over a business in that second country. FDI inflows come with many benefits. It can bring new access to markets, improve the skills of the host labor force,…
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Is Microfinance Effective? Implications for MSME Growth and Financial Inclusion
It’s a common talking point that access to finance is a barrier to growth for MSMEs. This is true anecdotally and seen in survey results. Globally, Microfinance (MF) has been seen as a way to alleviate this problem. This article looks at the background of microfinance, some literature on its effectiveness, and argues that a…
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Green Choices, Red Tape: Dissecting Brown Sludge and Infrastructure
While last week’s article discussed the role that brown sludge has in disincentivizing green behavior, this article expands on the idea of brown sludge and looks at brown infrastructure. Brown infrastructure helps to further understand the barriers that impede the adoption of green behavior, taking a systemic approach instead of an individual incentive approach. This…
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Sludge and Effective Eco-labeling: How the Private Sector Can Promote Green Behavior
We all understand the significance of reducing our carbon footprint and opting for eco-friendly choices, but why is it so challenging? Despite daily messages stressing the importance of environmental protection, consumers still grapple with making green purchasing decisions. Based on the work of Shreedhar, Moran and Mills (2023), this article examines a hindrance to green…
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Navigating Turbulence: Resolving the BSI/BSCFA Dispute
Editor’s Note: This article was written on January 5, 2024, and the situation is ongoing. Updates may be provided periodically to reflect the latest developments. Please note that subsequent events may lead to changes in the narrative. Check back for the latest updates as the story unfolds. The conflict between Belize Sugar Industries Limited/American Sugar…
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Bitter Truth: Price Controls and Sugar shortages in Belize
The scenes of empty shelves where bags of sugar should be is reminiscent of a country after a natural disaster or some other exogenous shock. Except, there has not been any natural disaster nor is the country experiencing any conflict that would necessitate rationing. To put simply, the sugar that would typically occupy Belizean supermarkets…
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Belize Exports First Shipment of Sugar to Taiwan
Recently, and for the first time in Belizean history, sugar has been officially exported to Taiwan. 20 metric tons packaged in 25kg bags of Demerara light (brown) direct consumption sugar will arrive in Taiwan’s ports, marking a significant milestone in Belize’s trade policy. Belize and Taiwan 2019 marked the celebration of 30 years of diplomatic…
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Business Re-registration Deadline
The Financial Services Commission issued a public notice on November 9th 2023 to remind all businesses of the obligation to re-register with the Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry (BCCAR). In 2022, re-registration became mandatory after the Belize Companies Act 2022 was enacted. This applied to all existing businesses who had been registered at…
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Review of Targeted Direct Cash Transfers
Executive Summary Cash transfer programs emerged as a powerful tool during the COVID-19 pandemic, benefiting 1.36 billion people globally and providing essential social protection. Lasting an average of 4.5 months, these programs demonstrated their effectiveness in adapting to crises, leading to a surge of scholarly interest. Belize’s successful initiatives like BOOST and BOOST+ underscored the…
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A Review of Targeted Approaches to Tackle Inflation
Introduction In the midst of soaring food prices, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) finds itself at a crossroads of a pivotal policy proposal. The Government intends to introduce price controls on 31 additional items at a time when businesses are still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, grappling with soaring…
