By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): The United States says Belize’s investment climate is mixed but slowly getting better.
That is the conclusion of the US State Department’s 2026 Investment Climate Statement on Belize, which reviews the country’s openness to foreign investment, its laws and its business environment.
The report notes that the Government remains publicly supportive of foreign direct investment and sees private investment as a key driver of growth, jobs and diversification. Foreign investment inflows continued to rise in 2025, led by tourism related construction.
Belize’s real GDP grew 2.7 percent in 2025 to $5.4 billion, the fifth straight year of growth since the pandemic. Agriculture, forestry and fishing rose 7.8 percent, while construction climbed 9 percent. Total public sector debt reached $4.68 billion, or 70.2 percent of GDP.
The report highlights several reforms. Among them:
The Online Business Registry System, which has made company registration faster.
Amendments to the Fiscal Incentives Act and Designated Processing Areas framework, opening incentives to more sectors, including digital services and aquaculture.
A new Insolvency and Bankruptcy Act that allows struggling businesses to restructure instead of closing.
Central Bank reforms allowing commercial banks to approve foreign exchange for many transactions under $50,000.
And the launch of Belize’s first credit bureau, which should improve access to credit.
The report also notes the Cabinet approved an Investor Residency Program in December 2025, offering permanent residence for a $250,000 commercial investment. The enabling law is still pending.
Priority sectors promoted by the Government include tourism, agriculture, BPO, renewable energy, digital services and aquaculture.
Figures in the report are in US dollars.
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By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): The United States says Belize’s investment climate is mixed but slowly getting better. That is the conclusion of the US State Department’s 2026 Investment Climate Statement on Belize, which reviews the country’s openness to foreign investment, its laws and its business environment. The report notes that the Government remains publicly
The post US report: Belize investment climate improving, but red flags remain appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.