BELIZE
Location:
Belize, the former British Honduras, borders the Caribbean Sea between Guatemala and
Mexico. Its total area is 22,960 square kilometres.
Population:
208,949 (July, 1994 estimate)
Languages:
English (official), Spanish, Maya, Garifuna (Carib)
Government:
The Belizean government is a parliamentary democracy.
Legal System:
The Belizean legal system is based on English law.
Telecommunications:
Belize has an above-average telecommunication system based on microwave
radio relay. It has one Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station.
Economy:
The economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry and merchandising,
with tourism and construction assuming increasing importance. Agriculture accounts
for about 30% of GDP and provides 75% of export earnings, while sugar, the chief crop,
accounts for almost 40% of hard currency earnings. The United States, Belize's main
trading partner, is assisting in efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an
agricultural diversification program.
Industries:
Belize's main industries are garment production, citrus concentrates, sugar refining,
rum, beverages and tourism.
Currency:
1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents
Exchange Rates:
Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate)
Related sites:
Belize
Belize First Magazine
Belize Online
To the Offshore World home page.
To the Offshore Financial Centres page.