The Government of Belize, through the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE), launched its sixth Digital Connect Center in Belize City.   This initiative is funded  by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the project,  “Building Resilient MSME’s Accelerating Digitization”, to the tune of  USD$360,000.00.

The Digital Connect Centers offer free access to computers, learning opportunities, support to access government services and is a part of a national commitment from key collaborators to promote digital inclusion and bridging the digital divide, primarily in rural areas in need of technological services. The Digital Connect Center located at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offices  on Coney Drive includes 4 desktops, a printer, and stable internet connection which will serve the community and surrounding areas through training in entrepreneurial development, business innovation and competitiveness for Micro, Small Medium, Enterprises (MSME); and it will also provide access to digital literacy trainings to upskill youths, women, the unemployed, migrants, and the elderly.

The Digital Connect Centers will connect entrepreneurs to BELTRAIDE's Virtual Knowledge Center (VKC) platform which provides access to training materials for enterprise growth and innovation, the MSME Directory, a Job Portal, and access to other support services and catalogues designed to propel business development. The launch represents an investment of USD $15,000.00 from the UNDP with contributions from BELTRAIDE.  

In attendance was Hon. Kareem Musa, Area Representative for Caribbean Shores. Remarks were delivered by Mr. Edmund Kwang, Councilor of the Belize City Council; CEO Narda Garcia, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Investment; Diane Wade, Programme Analyst and Office in Charge, UNDP, and Dr. Leroy Almendarez, Executive Director of BELTRAIDE who delivered the closing remarks.