Belize Launches Comprehensive National Transportation Master Plan
PRESS RELEASE
Belize City, May 22nd, 2018.
As part of its commitment to deliver a well-organized, sustainable, and climate-resilient transportation sector, the Government of Belize, with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) officially launched today, May 22nd, Belize’s first ever Comprehensive National Transportation Master Plan (CNTMP).
The overall objective of the CNTMP is to serve as Belize’s preeminent reference document on transportation. It will aid in facilitating strategic sector planning and more efficient and effective transport of people and freight within the country, and between Belize and its main trading partners.
The launch event, held at the Belize Biltmore Plaza, was attended by key representatives in the public and private sector as well as civil society.
“The result of extensive coordination with key relevant public authorities and a broad cross-section of private-sector stakeholders, this milestone Master Plan is intended to guide future decisions on the growth and development of the country,” said Mr. Ishmael Quiroz, Director of the Department of Public-Private Dialogue. “It sets forth the development vision, policy reform recommendations and implementation plan for the country’s transport sector over the next 15 years.”
The CNTMP was developed by a team of experts from Egis International of France (in association with Transconsult of Mexico), an engineering group, specializing in transport engineering and urban development, and in providing economic and institutional advice. Transconsult specializes in sustainable urban mobility, regional transport infrastructure, transport project implementation management, and operation of transport systems and infrastructure.
This initiative was funded by a technical cooperation grant from the IDB’s Japan Special Fund valued at US$880,000 along with the counterpart contribution of US$220,000 by the Government of Belize.
“The IDB strongly supports the Government’s Growth and Sustainable Development Strategy and is happy to have collaborated on the new transport master plan, which will increase competitiveness and expand the number of communities able to capitalize on the country’s tourism potential which is currently experiencing unprecedented growth,” said Cassandra Rogers, IDB Country Representative.
The Master Plan’s component reports are now available for public access on the Economic Development Council’s website: For more information click here