On September 2015 the Prime Minister of Belize, Hon. Dean Barrow, mentioned on his Independence Day Message to Belize that government had plans for improving infrastructure designed to boost tourism in the country. One major project was the construction of an international airport for the island of Ambergris Caye and on Thursday, December 12, 2017, the project was put in motion and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the Nation’s Capital, Belmopan.
This project is expected to significantly increase direct tourism arrivals in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye and will be Belize’s Second International Airport. The airport will be named The Efrain Guerrero International Airport and the plans are to make a state of the art international airport to accommodate flights from major airlines such as United Airlines and American Airlines as well as European and Canadian Airlines.
“There is still some work to do in terms of the commitment and the arrangements for the land and that sort of thing. So the MOU is in effect for a year, another 12 months and during that period of time we hope to complete all the due diligence for the project and immediately thereafter once we are able to meets those goals, move into the construction phase.” Stated Hon. Tracy Taegar Panton, Minister of State to 7News Belize.
The Government of Belize signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with International Airport Alliance Belize Limited (the “Developer”), seeking to develop and manage a full-service International Airport on Northern San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The Memorandum of Understanding is set for 12 months – during that time the team will finalize logistics in terms of land, finances and environmental assessments. This new airport is expected to cost over $100 million US dollars. The proposed Project, inclusive of a terminal building, runway, taxiway, apron and other ancillary facilities, with plans to employ approximately 181 Belizeans during the operational phase. The Project expects to bring long-term socio-economic benefits to Belize and add further value to its thriving tourism industry.
The MOU, which establishes the general framework that guides the standard investment facilitation process, was signed by the Hon. Erwin Contreras, Minister of Economic Development, Petroleum, Investment, Trade and Commerce on behalf of the Government of Belize. Mr. Jorge Abraham Jaen signed on behalf of International Airport Alliance Belize Limited. The Cabinet Sub-Committee for Investments, chaired by the Hon. Tracy Taegar Panton has been integral in the ongoing investment facilitation process.
Click Here for More Ambergris Today News Online
