CDF approves funds for Belize and St Lucia
Published:Friday | July 16, 2010 | 12:26 PM
The Barbados-based CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) says it has approved nearly US$9 million in its first Country Assistance Programmes, to Belize and St Lucia.
The CDF says it is providing a US$3 million loan to Belize to support small and medium sized enterprises and micro-entrepreneurs.
In addition it said a grant not exceeding US$200,000 drawn from the technical assistance resources donated by the Government of Finland will be allocated for green projects.
The CDF adds that two grants totalling US$175,000 were also approved for the Belize Trade and Investment Services Corporation (Beltraide) and the Public Sector Investment Programme.
The grant to Beltraide will be used to develop a policy on micro, small and medium sized enterprise development, while the second grant will be used by the Public Sector Investment Programme to develop and implement a functioning Management Information System.
St Lucia is receiving a US$3.7 million loan to be administered by the St Lucia Development Bank for lending to the private sector.
The island is also receiving a $1 million grant to finance the establishment of a Trade Export Development Agency.