Minister Osmond Martinez participates in panel discussion at CDB’s 55th Annual meeting held in Brasil

Posted: Thursday, June 12, 2025. 11:50 am CST.

By Zoila Palma:  Osmond Martinez, Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Transformation, represented Belize this week at the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) 55th Annual Meeting in Brazil.

Participating in a panel on “Global Food Security in a Changing Climate,” Minister Martinez joined regional leaders in discussing strategies to strengthen the Caribbean’s agricultural resilience through inclusive policies, climate-smart technologies, and market reforms.

Martinez emphasized the hardworking nature of Belize’s farmers, describing them as “some of the hardest working people you will ever see,” while also pointing out their vulnerability.

He cited challenges such as limited access to finance, the growing impact of climate change, and insufficient knowledge of modern farming techniques as barriers to productivity and sustainability in the agro-productive sector.

Highlighting the government’s vision, Martinez reaffirmed Prime Minister John Briceño’s call for greater private sector involvement.

He noted that Belize is working toward establishing an insurance system to protect farmers and is also encouraging public-private partnerships to boost investment in the sector.

In a striking example of the need for transformation, Martinez pointed out that Belize exports raw crops like corn and beans but still imports products such as maseca, refried beans, and processed pineapples.

“We need to move toward added-value products,” he said, arguing that doing so would positively impact the country’s macroeconomic indicators. To make this shift, he stressed the need to unlock concessional financing from development partners.

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The post Minister Osmond Martinez participates in panel discussion at CDB’s 55th Annual meeting held in Brasil appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.

Posted: Thursday, June 12, 2025. 11:50 am CST. By Zoila Palma:  Osmond Martinez, Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Transformation, represented Belize this week
The post Minister Osmond Martinez participates in panel discussion at CDB’s 55th Annual meeting held in Brasil appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.