Belize Diaspora Summit Opens With Focus on Investment and National Development

The Belize Diaspora Summit 2026 opened this morning at the Grand Resort and Residences in Belize City, bringing together Belizeans living abroad, government representatives, business leaders and other stakeholders for three days of dialogue, networking and cultural exchange.  The summit is being held under the theme “Savor Belize: Taste the Culture, Feel the Connection, Discover Opportunities.” It is intended to strengthen the relationship between Belize and its diaspora while exploring ways Belizeans abroad can contribute to investment, innovation, entrepreneurship and national development.  During the opening ceremony, Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner welcomed the visiting delegates to the old capital and encouraged them to experience the city’s culture, history and opportunities.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City: “To our long standing friends of Belize, welcome home. To our new friends experiencing Belize and Belize City for the first time we hope this is the beginning of a life long relationship. And to our energized, accomplish, and relentless committed Belizean diaspora, thank you for continuing to engage and to contribute to our country’s development from afar. You are living proof that all those people who say long distance relationships never work are completely wrong. Because this relationship really works. It works every time you send support home to a family member. It works every time you promote Belize in another country. When you invest in a local business, when you share your professional expertise , when you mentor a young Belizean or return home with an idea that creates opportunities for yourself and for others. The relationship between Belize and its diaspora is not weakened by this distance, it is strengthened by purpose, sustained by love and renewed every time one of you asks “How can I contribute?” That question is at the heart of this summit. Over these three days we will explore some of the most important issues shaping Belize’s future. We’ll speak about nation building, we’ll speak on the investment, capital, cyber security, digital transformation, regional diaspora management and engagement and the opportunities and challenges facing our young people. These are not abstract conversations. They affect whether a young entrepreneur can access financing to expand a business, they affect whether Belize can compete confidently in a digital world. They affect whether our children can see a future for themselves here at home.”

Today’s programme includes discussions on diaspora participation in nation-building, Belize’s digital transformation, regional diaspora engagement and the challenges and opportunities facing Belizean youth. A business marketplace is also being held to connect entrepreneurs, investors and service providers.  Minister of Immigration Kareem Musa also addressed the opening. He acknowledged the contributions Belizeans abroad already make through remittances, expertise and other forms of support, but appealed for even greater participation in Belize’s continued development.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Immigration: “This summit offers culture, connection and opportunities for members of the diaspora. Belize extends beyond its territorial borders. It includes the Belizean nurse in Canada, the entrepreneur in Los Angeles, the teacher in Chicago, the soldier in London, the student in Taiwan, the public officer in Washington, the extended families across CARICOM and every child or grand child of Belizean descent who wants to understand where they come from. In 2018, I stood up in our Belizean parliament and said “Once a Belizean, always a Belizean.”. I got up to present a private members bill for diaspora Belizeans to vote in the ICJ referendum. I told the Amandala newspaper later that day that I did it because I believe no matter what part of the world we are living in, Belize is our home. And it was via social media that I was able to clearly hear and appreciate the aspirations of the diaspora and how they want to engage, participate and support in developing our country. The 2018 ICJ vote was the most consequential referendum in Belize since our independence. And for me, we needed all voices expressed. Eight years later, as I give some reflection moment, I am reminded more than ever how interconnected we are, how the artificial intelligence age that we are entering will require more of us coming together, not less. It will place much more complex demands on our nation state, so we must work and prepare together across borders and barriers.”

Organizer of the summit, Aria Lightfoot, also addressed participants on the “Seat at the Table” policy paper. She says the initiative is about ensuring Belizeans in the diaspora have a voice and a place in shaping the country’s future.

Aria Lightfoot, Organizer, Belize Diaspora Summit: “We are introducing a policy paper requesting that the government create a national diaspora policy for the diaspora community. The diaspora advocacy started way back when with the consortium of Belizean, I can’t say the full name, you had Burt Tucker, there were people like Nuri Mohammed, you had Bilal Morris. This has been going on for a while. There’s been different level of advocacy and I’ve been involved with Belizean citizens abroad, Belize American Chamber of Commerce. So we have been doing different types of diaspora related events. Right now we are formulating the summit as a more mature type policy focus and we do it with an agenda and motivation involved, I mean, involved with the process. Just today I could tell you in that room and they asked how many people flew in for this, right? When you think about maybe 30 people flying in and I think that’s about a fair number, and I don’t know who else, right? You think about 30 people coming in, staying somewhere, buying local food, me and my group yesterday hunting down Belizean food, right? Because nobody wants American food. When you think about the taxes and the hotels and the drinks and socializing they do bring a serious economic impact when the diaspora comes home.”

The activities continue tomorrow with a business and investment forum focused on building a scalable investment environment in the Caribbean and improving access to financing and capital. A cultural event will also be held at the Bliss Institute. The summit concludes on Saturday with health, wellness and tourism activities, followed by a gala dinner at the Grand Resort. The event will also feature the first official appearance of the Miss Universe Belize 2026 delegates.