Public Officers Attend Workshop to Strengthen Competition Enforcement and Fair Competition Laws

Senior public officers from across the government are participating in a capacity-building workshop this week aimed at improving Belize’s ability to regulate competition and strengthen fair trading practices.  The training, hosted by the Directorate for Foreign Trade within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, is being conducted in collaboration with the CARICOM Competition Secretariat, the Commonwealth Secretariat and CARIFORUM.  The sessions focus on competition enforcement and reforms needed to align Belize with Chapter Eight of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which governs fair competition across the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.  Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ambassador Amalia Mai, opened the workshop, emphasizing the importance of strengthening Belize’s institutional capacity in trade regulation.

Minister of State for Foreign Trade Marconi Leal Junior also addressed participants, noting that effective competition policy is essential to protecting both investors and consumers while supporting economic growth.

Officials say the workshop is expected to improve regulatory coordination among public agencies and better prepare Belize to enforce regional trade obligations while fostering a more transparent and competitive business environment.