Minister Osmond Martinez Visits Key Agriculture Sites

Osmond Martinez, Minister for Foreign Trade, toured the Royal Mayan Shrimp Farm and the Banana Growers Association (BGA) earlier this week to recognise their economic impact and address pressing industry challenges.

At the Royal Mayan Shrimp Farm, Minister Martinez observed sustainable aquaculture techniques used to produce seafood for local and international markets. “The farm representatives expressed their optimism about entering the Taiwan market in the first quarter of 2025. The Mexican market remains a prospect for the farm.” However, the company needs affordable financing and renewable energy to tackle annual electricity costs, which currently total around BZ$600,000.

Minister Martinez then visited the BGA, where he praised the association’s efforts to expand market access and support growers despite ongoing high production and labour costs. With labour supply heavily reliant on immigrant workers, the BGA’s leadership said that securing adequate staffing remains a challenge as production demands grow.

The Minister was accompanied by Andy Sutherland, Director General for Foreign Trade, and other Ministry officials.