High-Level Meeting between Mexico and Belize officials focuses on agricultural cooperation

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: In a move to bolster bilateral relations, Belize’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise (MAFSE) is hosting a high-level meeting with Laura Elena Carrillo Cubillas, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The meeting, at the Rustic Roof in Orange Walk, follows up on discussions held in June when Carrillo visited as the Mexican Agency of International Cooperation for Development (Amexcid) Executive Director for the official launch of the Amexcid-funded Sembrando Vida Belize project, an initiative to help small farmers become more self-sustaining.

Monday’s Orange Walk meeting commenced with a welcome address by Jose Abelardo Mai, Belize’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise.

Key remarks were delivered by Vice Minister Carrillo Cubillas, Martha Zamarripa Rivas, Mexico’s Ambassador to Belize, and Carlos Imanol Belausteguigoitia Reyes, Director General for Central America and the Caribbean within Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry. They all highlighted the importance of the collaboration.

Mexican delegation – Photo Credit: MAFSE

The agenda covered several critical topics, each presented by experts in the field, followed by a discussion period:

1. Extension of Tariff-Free Status for Cattle Exports to Mexico – Belarmino Esquivel, Principal Agriculture Officer/Livestock Coordinator, MAFSE
2. Export of Coconuts to Mexico in Green Form – Hugh O’Brien, Program Manager – Citrus Revitalization and Diversification Program, MAFSE
3. Export of Sugar to Mexico, Tariff-Managed Status – Jose Novelo, Grains and Traditional Coordinator, MAFSE
4. Extension of Sembrando Vida Project – Emilio Rene Montero, Coordinator – National Food and Nutrition Security Commission
5. Tren Maya – Narda Garcia, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Finance

The meeting seeks a renewed commitment to fostering agricultural development and cooperation between Belize and Mexico, focusing on a shared vision for a prosperous and sustainable future in the region.

Belize delegation – Photos Credit: MAFSE

Belize-Mexico meeting – Photos Credit: MAFSE