Hon. Eamon Courtenay, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration of Belize (left) and the Hon. Kerrie Symmonds, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados signed MoU for cooperation in the Blue Economy Sector (Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade)
Barbados and Belize have agreed to collaborate in areas of the Blue Economy sector that would be beneficial to both countries. The ‘Blue Economy’ as a concept is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth and improved livelihood and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems.
On 5 July 2023, in the margins of the 45th CARICOM Heads of Government meeting held in Trinidad and Tobago, foreign affairs ministers, Kerrie Symmonds and Eamon Courtenay signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the behalf of the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy and the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation respectively.
The MoU enables cooperation in several areas including reef restoration, marine spatial planning, the development of shared knowledge, science and technology and jointly building a maritime community with a shared future.
In October 2022, the Government of Belize through the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation, with support from the Biodiversity Finance Initiative Belize and the United Nations Development Program, launched Belize’s first Blue Economy Development, Policy and Strategy and the first Belize Maritime Economy Plan. This was a significant step forward in defining what the Blue Economy means for Belize’s economic growth and sustainable ocean governance. (END)
Author: Government of Barbados
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
