Martinez Appointed Minister of State for Foreign Trade

The newly elected Toledo East Area Representative Hon. Osmond Martinez is now the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Trade.

Sworn in by the Governor General on Tuesday, Martinez, who won by a wide margin in the Toledo East by-election following the passing of former Area Representative Mike Espat, Martinez explained that his new role will involve implementing and expanding on initiatives started in economic development, focusing particularly on regional integration.

He pointed out that Belize is geographically well-positioned to become a vital trading hub for the southern part of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. This strategic location can be leveraged to strengthen trade ties and attract investments.

“[We] continue to have the discussions of regional integration, for example, with Mexico and Central America in terms of trade and commerce. And so there is a lot that needs to be done,” said Martinez. “But for me, at this present moment, it's too early to give the details because I will need to sit or I will be having a meeting with Minister Francis Fonseca and then he will be able to brief me or to let me know what would be the next steps and division that we should follow and to brief me of where the Ministry of Trade is at the present moment.”

One of the key priorities under his leadership will be addressing the trade deficit by negotiating more favorable trade agreements with neighboring countries. Martinez identifies regional integration as crucial for Belize's economic growth and sees opportunities in diversifying export markets and increasing the country’s trade competitiveness.

He also underscored the complementary nature of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Trade. Martinez explained that he intends to build on the planning and coordination efforts made during his tenure in economic development, now focusing on their execution through foreign trade policies.

In addition to strengthening regional trade, Martinez plans to explore new trade corridors, including the Pacific and Atlantic connections, to maximize Belize’s trade potential.