France and Belize
Political relations
French interests in Belize are followed by the French Embassy in El Salvador. Belize is represented by its ambassador in residence in Brussels.
Economic relations
The Franco-British oil group Perenco (or its Guatemalan subsidiary to be precise) obtained one of the 17 exploitation concessions issued by the government.
Following the agreement between France and Belize regarding the exchange of tax information, Belize was removed in 2012 from the French list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions.
In 2016, French exports reached €1.3 million (€1 million in 2015) and French exports increased from €7.9 million to €8.6 million. French purchases from Belize include textile products, clothing and shoes which together represent 94% of the total (€8.1 million).
Cooperation
France supports the development of Belize through the work of the European Union to which it is one of the main contributors: as a member of the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) group of States, Belize has received funding from the European Development Fund since 1982. Cooperation programmes between the European Union and Belize have grown strongly in recent years, justifying the creation of a EU office in Belmopan.
As part of the 2014-2020 (11th EDF), €27 million have been dedicated to three priority sectors: renewable energy sources, health and public management.
Belize will also benefit from the French contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Updated: 28 Feburary 2017