Statistical Institute of Belize receives major donation of ICT equipment and vehicles from KOICA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STATISTICAL INSTITUTE OF BELIZE RECEIVES MAJOR DONATION OF ICT EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES FROM KOICA

BELMOPAN CITY, BELIZE, March 19, 2025 – The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) today celebrated a major boost to its capacity with the official handover of BZD 290,000 worth of ICT equipment and two new Ford Everest SUVs. The donation was made possible through the Enabling of Belize’s Statistical System Project, funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and World Food Programme (WFP).

The project, signed in 2024 with a total value of USD 2.94 million, aims to strengthen Belize’s national statistical system, enabling more accurate and timely data collection, analysis, and dissemination.

Mr. Michael Lund, UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative expressed gratitude to KOICA for their commitment to Belize’s development. “We are most appreciative of our donors who have travelled from El Salvador to join us today, and we are grateful for your partnership in achieving this milestone.” “With this donation, SIB will now enhance its capacity to produce and store critical data and improve field operations with the two highly efficient vehicles.”

Ms. Diana Castillo-Trejo, SIB’s Director General stated the “upgraded ICT equipment will significantly enhance SIB’s ability to modernize data production, processing and storage systems, while the motor vehicles will support data collection efforts across the country, ensuring reliable and cost efficient transportation for our data collection teams.”

Highlighting this project as KOICA’s first collaboration with Belize, KOICA Country Director, Ms. Sohui Cho, stated, “These new ICT equipment and vehicles will allow the Statistical Institute of Belize to play a vital role in providing timely and accurate data, contributing to the Government of Belize’s informed decisions and policy-making.”

Echoing the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Mr. Lund added, “At the core of our strategy is a simple idea: We start with data action that adds immediate value for our organization and the people we serve. Data is both a compass and a mirror; it guides us forward while reflecting the impact of our efforts.”

The ceremony highlighted the collaborative efforts of KOICA, the UN family, and national partners to improve data-driven decision-making for Belize’s sustainable development.

All parties expressed a shared commitment to advancing the project’s objectives and looked forward to achieving additional milestones in 2025.

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For more information, please contact:

Javier Romero
Communications and Marketing Officer
Statistical Institute of Belize
jromero@mail.sib.org.bz
+501 822 2207 ext. 209