By Belize Live News Staff: The United States says Belize still has work to do if it wants to win over investors.
While the State Department’s 2026 Investment Climate Statement recognizes progress, it also lists a series of problems that continue to discourage investment.
Topping the list are slow bureaucracy, uneven enforcement of regulations, shaky land titles, corruption concerns and limited transparency in Government procurement.
Land remains a sore point. The report says investors have raised concerns about land fraud and corruption at the Lands and Survey Department. It also points to overlapping title systems and the absence of any regulation for real estate agents.
On corruption, the report says Belize has the laws on paper, but enforcement is weak. It notes that public officials rarely comply with asset declaration requirements, and that business owners complain of political favouritism in licensing, contracts and land deals.
Investors also face high energy and shipping costs, a small local market, worker shortages in key sectors and delays in getting work permits for foreign staff.
The report notes that state owned companies dominate electricity, water, telecommunications and the port, making it hard for new players to enter those markets.
There is some good news on the justice front. Courts remain independent, and the judiciary has made real progress in reducing its backlog of civil cases.
The State Department’s advice to investors is simple: Belize has opportunities, but it pays to do your homework, find good local partners and be patient.
Sources: 2026 Investment Climate Statements: Belize, US Department of State
