A high-level delegation from Belize, led by Ambassadors of Investment H.E. Jaime Briceño and H.E. Haisam Diab, along with Belize’s Ambassador to Mexico, H.E. Oscar Arnold, convened with representatives of Mexico’s ambitious Tren Maya Railway Project. The meeting, convened at the Teya Tren Maya Station in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, on March 25, delved into prospects for collaboration between the two nations.
Key figures at the meeting included Carlos Imanol Belausteguigoitia, Mexico’s Director General for Central America and the Caribbean, alongside officials from Mexico’s Secretary of National Defense (SEDENA), including Brigadier General D.E.M. Germán Redondo Suárez and Lieutenant Colonel Jair Garcia Pineda, pivotal figures in the Tren Maya project.
The focal point of discussions revolved around the potential establishment of a station at Belize’s Corozal Free Zone on the Northern Border with Mexico. Such a development would facilitate enhanced connectivity, offering passenger and freight services between Belize and southern Mexico. Additionally, it would grant access to Mexico’s Interoceanic Railway, augmenting trade routes between port cities on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
With Mexico’s military spearheading the construction and administration of Tren Maya, the project benefits from competitive pricing and assured security measures. Notably, the army core of engineers has diligently met key milestones, with five of seven routes already completed. The forthcoming completion of the Chetumal to Cancún route, slated for June-July 2024, promises increased accessibility for an estimated four million travelers annually and provides a viable conduit for Belizean goods to access Mexican markets.
Launched in December 2023, Tren Maya stands as the largest infrastructure initiative in the Western Hemisphere. Spanning 966.27 miles, the railway links five states in Mexico’s southeastern region, fostering connectivity between urban centers and cultural landmarks. The project employs cutting-edge technology, with locomotives harnessing both diesel and electric power, signaling a leap forward in railway innovation.