Corozal Free Zone Opens for One-Day Shopping Event for Belizeans

Belizeans will have a one-day opportunity to shop at the Corozal Free Zone tomorrow, as authorities host a special Open Day aimed at giving local shoppers access to goods within the zone.  The Free Zone will open its gates at 8:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m., allowing Belizeans a full day to shop. However, officials have emphasized that alcoholic drinks and cigarettes are exempted and will not be allowed among the items purchased during the Open Day.  CEO of the Corozal Free Zone, Neri Ramirez, explained that special preparations have been made to manage the expected increase in visitors. He noted that staffing has been significantly increased to ensure smooth operations and that customs procedures will remain in effect.

Neri Ramirez, CEO, Corozal Free Zone: “Preparations has been made ahead of time. Immigration has put up more manpower, more officers on the ground. Customs also had put manpower. Free Zone for security, instead of have one shift, we have double shift working together at the same time so that they could have better control, traffic controls within the free zone. We are, we have also gotten the cooperation by the police department who’s also assisting us tomorrow. We normally have police at the Corozal Free Zone on a daily basis, but because tomorrow is going to be a very busy day, we expect that it is going to be very busy, a lot of traffic jam probably. So we are finding ways how to accommodate them. There is a fee to enter the Corozal Free Zone, a five dollars per person to enter the Corozal Free Zone and then you come in and you do your shopping. Going back to the Belizean side, you have to show your receipt and there is duties that will be charged, but it will be on the discretion of the customs officer at the checkpoint based on the volume of merchandise that you are going to be taking back to Corozal and Belize. I am recommending to all Belizeans that they should know that to come across to the immigration checkpoint they should all have a traveling document. They have to get a traveling document even if they’re not crossing to Chetumal. If not they will be turned back at the border. So it could be a one day permit that they get the paper permit. It could be the digital card. It could be the PVC card or it could also be a passport.”

Ramirez also highlighted that while certain restricted items are excluded, shoppers can still expect a wide variety of merchandise to be available across the zone’s many stores.

Neri Ramirez, CEO, Corozal Free Zone: “The prices are lower than national territory because it’s a duty-free area. The only pay 3% on any general merchandise on social fees. Also that you have a lot of clothing, tennis, perfumes, female bags, games, toys for your kids. If you haven’t done your last minute shopping, You still have time to come to Corozal Free Zone tomorrow and you enjoy shopping tomorrow at the Corozal Free Zone. You will feel the difference when you enter the free zone, when you see the prices. And right here, well you handle tree currencies, you have US, Belize dollars, and you also pesos, right? In any of these tree currency you can make the purchase inside of Corozal Free Zone. Well, they have different restaurants and locations that they do sell alcoholic beverages. You can come and you can have fun. You can drink your MGD, your Heineken, your Michelob, whatever choice of beer or liquor that you would like to have but you have to be drinking responsibly, advising the public that if you going to come and drink some cold beers to do it responsibly or to bring a driver because at the end of the day we don’t want to hear no accidents on the road because they came to the Corozal Free Zone and they overdo it. If you think you can’t control it bring a driver that will not be drinking and you can have fun. Liquor cannot be taken out into the national territory. Customs will be doing their searches, they’re going to be doing their duties and then it’s at your own risk if you try to hide it and you will be charged or they will be taken away from you. Cigarette as well. That’s correct.” 

Authorities are advising shoppers to plan ahead, adhere to regulations, and be prepared to pay applicable customs duties when exiting at the Santa Elena Border. The Open Day applies for tomorrow only.