This paper provides background information and analysis of recent economic developments and relevant issues in Belize. The main differences between the high growth experiences in the late 1980s and during 1999-2000 are also discussed. The following statistical data are presented in detail: savings and accounts, main agricultural crops, acreage, and production; industrial production, operations of the central government, interest rates, treasury securities, consumer price index, principal domestic exports, sugar exports by destination, direction of trade, terms of trade, summary of tax system, and so on.

The authorities' economic policy seeks to sustain strong economic growth mainly through low taxes, large public investment, and the provision of credit to the private sector through the state-owned Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The authorities expect the resulting high rate of economic growth to generate sufficient fiscal resources to reduce the public sector deficit and service the rapidly accumulating external public debt. Executive Directors welcomed the authorities' intention to reduce excess liquidity to help secure the sustainability of the exchange rate.

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