Belize
Belize, formerly British Honduras, is the only English-speaking country in Central America and is a member of the Commonwealth and the System of Integration in Central America group. Notwithstanding the distance, India and Belize enjoy friendly, warm, and cordial relations. Belize traditionally supports India on most issues, in the UN and other multilateral fora, and vice versa.
Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic
- Under the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ Initiative, India donated medical supplies and doses of Covid 19 vaccines to Belize during 2020- 2023.
- Government of India donated 10,000 doses of Covovax vaccines to Belize in April 2023.
- Government of India donated 10,000 doses of Covishield vaccines to Belize in July 2022.
- Government of India donated 25,000 does of Covishield vaccine to Belize in March 2021
- Government of India donated 10,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Belize in July 2021.
- Government of India provided as a token of solidarity lifesaving drugs worth US$ 127,000 to the Government and people of Belize to assist in their fight against Covid 19 pandemic in April 2020 and a shipment of medical supplies in the form of hydroxychloroquine tablets, essential drugs, testing kits and COIVD related protection gear in June 2020 to fight Covid19.
Capacity Building & Other Exchanges
- Under an MoU signed on 20th December, 2017, between the Government of India(Ministry of External Affairs) and the Government of Belize (Ministry of Education, Belize) to establish the IBCE, at the University of Belize at an estimated total cost of (then) Rs. 3,73,54,000 through the HMT(I), Bengaluru to implement the Project. India supplied the machinery and commissioned the project. The On the Job Training and Review of the Project was also undertaken and completed on August 30, 2022.
- India gifted 10 computers to the Office of Mayor of Orange Walk Town in March 2018 for setting up “Mahatma Gandhi Internet Resource Centre” for students for ‘Youth Development.
- In February 2018, the project to support Infrastructure for Human Social Transformation and Development, Health and Sports was approved by India- UNDP fund, which benefitted 4000 community members through the development or enhancements of two infrastructures. The campus of the ‘Youth Challenge Programme” and a Multi-purpose sporting and health facility was built in San Ignacio Town. The project was implemented in partnership with the Belizean Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation and UNDP.
- India gifted 39 computers and Auto CAD software for upgrading the IT infrastructure in March 2017 at the Orange Walk Institute for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (OW ITVET), Belize.
- India gifted 50 computers and related peripherals to the St. John’s College, Belize in February 2013 under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme to establish the “India-Belize Friendship Computer Centre”.
Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)
- US$ 1 million for strengthening of maternal and child health services in CARICOM member states to support the attainment, maintenance and sustainability of the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B. This project was approved in August 2023.
- Under Prime Minister of India’s announcement for CARICOM Group of countries, the Board of the India- UNDP Fund approved in January 2021 for a total budget of US$ One Million, to support the Government of Belize in the implementation of the Belize COVID-19 preparedness and Response Plan by procurement of medical equipment and an incinerator for medical waste management in Caye Caulker. The project was completed in March 2022, and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health and PAHO.
- US$ 590,000 for support to Infrastructure for Human Social Transformation and Development, Health and Sports. The project was completed in 2021.
- An MoU finalizing the proposal for setting up India Belize Centre of Engineering at the University of Belize, Belmopan was signed. HMT(I) has successfully implemented the project and regular training sessions are being held since July 2023.
- In March 2017 Government of India donated 40 computers worth US$ 50,000/- for The Orange Walk Institute for Vocational Education & Training. Earlier in February 2013, Government of India donated 50 computers to the Institute.
- As part of capacity building trainings, nearly 56 professionals from Belize have been trained in India under ITEC since 2002. Of these, 24 professionals have been trained just in the previous 9 years since 2014-15.
