March 2017 | Business View Caribbean

88 89 Belize Estate Company Limited brand. In 1993, he renamed the company he had bought a decade before by taking “Produce”out of its moniker, and today, the Belize Estate Company, Ltd. has diversified into many different sectors–all of which are transportation- centric. “The dealer aspect is the primary focus of the business,” says Vasquez. “We’ve been a Ford dealer for almost four decades; we’ve been a Kia deal- er for 25 years. And since last year, we represent Navistar International.” (Navistar International Corporation - formerly International Harvester Com- pany - is an American holding company that owns the manufacturers of: International brand commercial trucks; IC Bus school and commercial bus- es; and Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans. It is also a private label designer and manufacturer of diesel engines for the pickup truck, van, and SUV markets, and a provider of truck and diesel engine parts and service.) “We are also the local representative for NAPA Auto Parts,” Vasquez adds. “We position ourselves with very strong, global brands.” BEC is also the representative for several shipping lines and freight forwarders. “Belize is primarily an import market,” says Vasquez, “and the primary route comes from North America.We’ re not a big player in shipping from there, but we are in the top two from Europe and from Asia.We have the best service for those particular trade routes.” Services provided by BEC’s shipping department include: agents for container ships, break bulk services, bulk ships, tankers, tug services, stevedoring, bunkering, and barge rental. Its clients include: Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk Line, Colombo Marine, Sa- linas Freight Forwarders, Air Marine, Key International Freight Forwarders, and Air & Sea Worldwide International. As a compliment to its shipping services, BEC offers inland haulage over all the territory of Belize, door-to-port and port-to-door. “We also do a dray- age service that delivers shipping containers,” Vasquez adds. “So, we offer a holistic service to the shipping line.We assist in clearing and delivering to your door.”The company is also an agent for Lloyds International Insurance, and all members of the AIMU (American Institute of Marine Underwriters).“We admin-