ABOUT IFSC - International Financial Services Commission

Official Name: Belize

Location: East Coast of Central America, bounded on the North by Mexico, on the South and West by Guatemala, and on the East by the Caribbean Sea

Capital and Major City & Towns: (Capital) Belmopan City ; (City) Belize City, (Towns) San Ignacio, Santa Elena, Corozal, Orange Walk, Dangriga, Punta Gorda, San Pedro and Benque Viejo del Carmen

Climate: Subtropical (dry and wet season)

Rainfall: Annual rainfall ranges from 60 inches in the North to 200 inches in the South

Nationality: Belizean

Official Language: English. Spanish is also widely spoken. There are also a number of indigenous languages e.g. Creole, Garifuna, Maya and Ketchi.

Total Population: 282,600 - (2004 mid-year estimates)

Density of Population: 31.9 - (2004)

Labour Force: 102,437 - (2003 LFS Survey)

Literacy Rate: 76.5 - (2000)

Land Area: 22,923 km. sq. or 8,867 sq. miles

Form of Government: Democratic - Bicameral Legislature

Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II

Governor-General: Sir Colville N. Young Sr.

Head of Government: Prime Minister, Hon. Dean O. Barrow

Governing Party: United Democratic Party (UDP) 2008 - 2013

Next Election: By August 2013

Independence Day: September 21, 1981.

Currency: Belize dollar (Bz$)

Exchange Rate: US$1=Bz$2.00

Time zone: EST -1; GMT - 6

Phone Codes: Belize City (22), Belmopan (82), Orange Walk (32), Cayo (82), Dangriga (52), Punta Gorda (72), San Pedro (22), Caye Caulker (22), Placencia (52)

Major Ports: Belize City, Big Creek and Dangriga.

Major International Airport: Phillip S. W. Goldson International, 8 miles WNW of Belize City.

Entry Requirements: A valid passport is required of all visitors. Citizens of the United Kingdom, some Commonwealth countries, the European Union and the USA are not required to have a visa, provided they have a return or round trip ticket.

Departure Tax: Passengers who are nationals over 12 years pay US$11.25 and US$15.00 for non-nationals.

Business Hours: Government working hours: 8:00 am - Noon, 1:00 pm - 5:00pm (4:30 on Fridays) Banking: Mon. to Thur 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Religions: Predominantly Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Protestants. Small groups practise Islam, Buddhist, Hinduism and Bahai

Gross Domestic Product: US$673.5mn (1999)

Per Capita GDP: US$2,771.6 (1999)

Chief Products: Citrus, bananas, sugar, marine products, rice, red kidney beans, beef, pork, poultry, honey, garment, aerated beverages, alcoholic beverages, wheat flour, cigarettes.

Foreign Trade: Exports - US$166mn (1999); Imports - US$370mn(1999)

Principal Exports: Citrus, bananas, sugar, marine products, garments, and timber

Principal Imports: Machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and beverages, construction materials, fuel, and lubricants.

Major Trading Partners: The United States of America, United Kingdom, CARICOM, Guatemala, Mexico and Canada

Fuels: Lubricants and gas; all imported

Electricity Cost: US$0.19/Kwh. After the second phase of the Mollejon hydro project is completed, the electricity rate will decrease

Electric Power: Belize Electricity Limited; Voltage 110 Volts, Optional 220 Volts; Cost of Kwh: Bz$ 0.38(US$0.19). Type of Generating: Diesel. Continuity: 90% - 95%. Industrial Rate is available.

Telecommunications: All automatic systems: Direct dialing with major countries in the world. Telexes, faxes, cellular, email and internet are also readily available.