Economic  Framework 

Belize is a Country based principally on small enterprises’ economy; tourism is the first source of income, followed by fishing industry, citrus products, sugar cane industry, bananas and clothing trade.
The monetary growth applied by the Government and the fiscal policy started in September 1998 brought to a solid growth of GPD (5%)- Gross  Domestic Product-  from 1999 to 2005.
Considerable commercial deficit and  foreign debts are still  making troubles as commercial items  Next target is the decrease of poverty by the international aids’ donations.

GPD (equal purchasing power): 1.778 billion $ (2004)

GPD ( official exchange rate) : 908 million $  (2005)

GPD (real-state growth) : 3.8%  (2005)

GPD  per capita : $ 6.800 (2005)

GPD  divided for sectors : agriculture: 22:5%

           Industry: 23%
           Services: 54.5%  (2004).

Manpower: 90000 (there is  qualified personnel shortage and all kinds of technical staff).
Manpower – divided for type of activity : agriculture : 27 %
                     Industry: 18%
                     Services: 55% (2001)
Unemployment rate: 12.9%  (2003)

Population under poverty level : 33%  (2005)

Inflation rate : (according to consumer prices) : 3%  (2005)

Gross Investments : 35.4% of GPD (Gross Domestic Product).

Budget :  Income: 262 million $.
               Expenses: 329 million $, including  70 million $ in investment of capitals
              (2005).

Agricultural Products: bananas, citrus, sugar, fishes, cultivated shrimps, timber, clothing.
Industry:  Production of items for clothing, food processing, buildings.

Growth Rate of Industrial Production: 4.6%  (1999).

Electricity production: 120 million kilowatt  (2003).

Electricity consumption: 111.6 million Kwh.   (2003).

Electricity Export :  0 kwh  (2003).

Electricity Import :  0 kwh  (2003).

Petrol Production :  6.000 barrels per day  (2003).

Natural Gas Production: 0 m 3  (2003).

Natural Gas Consumption : 0 m3

Current Account Balance : -200.1 million $  (2005)

Exports: 349.9 million $ free on board  (2005).

Export Products: sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, sea food, molasses, wood.

Export’s Partners : 37.2% USA, 26.8% United Kingdom, 4.6% Jamaica  (2004).

Imports : 622.4 million $ free on board  (2005).

Import Products :  transport machinery and equipments, manufactured  products, fuel, chemical products, pharmaceutical products, food, drinks, tobacco.

Import’s Partners : 30.1% USA, 12% Mexico, 7.4% Guatemala, 7.2% Cuba, 4.2% China, 4.1% Japan  (2004).

Foreign Exchange Rate Reserve and Gold Stock : 90.45 million $  (2005).

Foreign Debts: 1.362 billion $  (June 2004).