Belmopan. August 25, 2021. 4:10 p.m.
The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment, the National Designated Authority (NDA) to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) have received support of BZ$595,074 grant funding from the GCF to boost the capacity of Belize’s private sector to access climate finance for investments in climate change projects.
As such, a half-day Inception Workshop and the formal launch of the project entitled, “Readiness Support for Strengthening Belize’s Private Sector Access to Climate Finance” was held on August 24, 2021, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in a hybrid format: virtually and at the McField conference room in Belize City.
Dr. Osmond Martinez, CEO in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment, explained that the project intervention is designed to build awareness and to strengthen the capacity of the private sector, including the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to engage with the GCF as per Plan Belize.
Mrs. Kim Aikman, CEO of the BCCI, mentioned that the project would allow the private sector to develop and submit viable projects to the GCF that will alleviate the stress of climate change effects such as droughts, flooding and tropical disturbances occurring more frequently.
The focus of the readiness project will be:
- Strengthening private sector engagement with the GCF through knowledge building;
- Crowing in private sector investment for climate actions; and
- Building the capacity within the private sector to develop GCF concept notes/funding proposals.
The project is being managed by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment in collaboration with the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) as the delivery partner which will implement the project.
Presentations were also made by Mr. Leroy Martinez, economist, Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment; Dr. Orville Grey, GCF regional manager; Mr. Miguel Almeyda, head of CDB private sector division; and Mrs. Olivia Avilez, ASR/BSI cane farmers relations & communication manager.
Ends
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Osmond Martinez
Belize’s NDA to the GCF
ceo@med.gov.bz
Mr. Leroy Martinez
Economist/GCF Focal Point
leroy.martinez@med.gov.bz
