By Belize Live News Staff: Belize has officially assumed the Chairmanship of the World Bank’s Small States Forum (SSF) for the period January 2026 to December 2028, marking a historic milestone in the country’s international leadership and development advocacy.
The announcement was made during the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group held in Washington, D.C., from October 13–17, 2025. The role of Chairman will be undertaken by Prime Minister John Briceño.
The Small States Forum is a platform that brings together finance ministers and central bank governors from small states worldwide to discuss the development challenges unique to small economies, including vulnerability to external shocks, limited growth capacity, and exposure to climate change. It also serves as an opportunity for member countries to advocate for customized World Bank support and financing tailored to their specific needs.
Belize assumes leadership at a crucial time as the World Bank finalizes its new Small States Strategy, which seeks to address persistent issues such as volatile economic growth, limited job creation, and structural vulnerabilities in small island and developing states.
During the handover meeting, Prime Minister Briceño, in a pre-recorded message, expressed gratitude for the designation and reaffirmed Belize’s commitment to ensuring that small states receive fit-for-purpose assistance through inclusive and resilient development programs.
The chairmanship was handed over to Belize by the Republic of Cabo Verde. Belize’s delegation to the meetings was led by Financial Secretary Joseph Waight, who outlined Belize’s priorities for the strategy. The delegation also included Kareem Michael, Governor of the Central Bank of Belize; Elvira Mendez, Adviser in the Executive Office of Canada, Ireland, and the Caribbean of the World Bank Board; Ambassador Nestor Mendez; Cinnamon Botarro of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); and Joshua Pott, Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Belize in Washington, D.C.
