Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele
CATZIM]
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,
LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332–9636
FAX: [1] (202) 332–6888
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Russell F. FREEMAN
embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane, Belize City
mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Belize City
telephone: [501] 227–7161 through 7163
FAX: [501] 2–30802
Flag description:
blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges;
centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of
arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany
tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the
Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland
Economy Belize
Economy - overview:
In this small, essentially private enterprise economy the tourism
industry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by
marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. The
government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in
September 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth averaging nearly 6% in
1999–2004. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit
and foreign debt. A key short-term objective remains the reduction
of poverty with the help of international donors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.778 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 17.7%
industry: 15%
services: 67.3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
90,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
(2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12.9% (2003)
Population below poverty line:
33% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.9% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
33.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $244.5 million
expenditures: $300 million, including capital expenditures of $70
million (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments
Industries:
garment production, food processing, tourism, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
4.6% (1999)
Electricity - production:
117 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 59.9% hydro: 40.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
108.8 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA
Oil - imports:
NA
Current account balance:
$-115 million (2004 est.)
Exports:
$401.4 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports - partners:
US 37.2%, UK 26.8%, Jamaica 4.6% (2004)
Imports:
$579.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
Imports - partners:
US 30.1%, Mexico 12%, Guatemala 7.4%, Cuba 7.2%, China 4.2%, Japan
4.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$111.1 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.362 billion (June 2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
NA
Currency (code):
Belizean dollar (BZD)
Currency code:
BZD
Exchange rates:
Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2004), 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2
(2001), 2 (2000)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Belize
Telephones - main lines in use:
33,300 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
60,400 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: above-average system
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: country code - 501; satellite earth station - 1