Maya Train May Expand to Belize for Trade and Tourism

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Neri Ramírez, executive director of the Belize Free Trade Zone, announced that personnel from the Maya Train project will soon arrive to conduct technical studies for the potential establishment of a rail route. The proposed extension could also include freight services.

Technical Studies to Begin Soon

Ramírez emphasized that the governments of Mexico and Belize have held multiple discussions on shared interests, particularly regarding trade and tourism. “Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño have met to strengthen bilateral relations,” he noted.

Interest in the Maya Train has persisted since the project’s launch in 2022. Ramírez confirmed that a team will soon assess the feasibility of extending the rail line to the Belize Free Trade Zone, located just 10 kilometers from the Chetumal station.

Potential Benefits for Trade and Tourism

The extension could boost commercial and tourism activity, with Ramírez highlighting the possibility of freight services. Belizean authorities have also explored extending the route further south to Tikal, Guatemala—a proposal first discussed during former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration.

Strategic Location of the Free Trade Zone

The Belize Free Trade Zone, situated near Mexico’s Subteniente López community, houses 328 businesses specializing in retail, logistics, and light manufacturing. It generates over 2,000 direct jobs and attracts 1.2 million annual visitors, primarily from Mexican states like Quintana Roo, Yucatán, and Campeche.

Mexican visitors can enter the zone without a passport, requiring only a valid ID. Recent infrastructure investments total $4.5 million USD.