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It was the first fair of its kind focusing on Forestry and Fisheries products, showing the public just how important these sectors are.

Hon. Lisel Alamilla - Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development
"Our forest and fisheries sector plays an important role in the social and economic development of Belize."

So booths with all types of wood and marine products were showcased, highlighting innovation and entrepreneurship.

Kay Menzies - President, BCCI
"The beauty of it is it gets to highlight Belize's sustainable business activities. We've just gone through some of the booths that are here and we get to see sustainable harvesting of stone crab claws, the new seaweed project down south which you are getting soap and nutritious foods and cohune oil which are all wonderful products of Belize and sustainable products of Belize. We need so much more of this because this is what will make the economy grow. We are happy to be here today getting this going. It's the first of its kind and we hope that it will continue and that it will encourage further inspiration."

Hon. Lisel Alamilla
"It was an idea born with a conversation I had with a furniture maker in Toledo District who thought about doing a wood fair in Toledo District and that idea grew to becoming a Forest and Fisheries and Finance Fair. Really the idea behind it is really to demonstrate how much of our livelihoods depend on out natural capital."

2 business owners tapping into that capital are Eduardo Arceo from Caye Caulker, and Joe Mena in Belmopan.

Arceo is trying to promote stone crab as a seafood delicacy.

Eduardo Arceo - Owner of Rose's Grill & Bar
"Stone crab is more special than just lobster and conch. Stone crab has a very unique flavor; you don't have to add anything to it. You just need to cook it the proper way and you can eat it just the way it is. First you boil the water and when the water is boiling you drop the crab for 3 minutes. When the shell turns pink, it's time to take it out or else it will continue cooking and then it will be over cook, so the best way to eat this crab is to boil the water and then drop the crab for 3 minutes. When you take it out it will be very juicy, flavorful - you don't need to add anything to this product."

Mena's operation, Wood Stop, focuses on Lumber, and turning it into furniture.

Joseph Mena - Director, Wood Stop
"Wood Stop - we are a lumber company based in Belmopan, we have an outlet here in Belize City and we do logging operations mostly in the southern part of the country - the southern coastal plains. We have our logging operations that we do and we have a sustainable management plan. We do mainly pine. People are very interested in especially the playground equipment. Everybody loves the picnic tables, they are a good product, they are very functional and most of all they are made from local wood. I think people are very receptive to it, they live the fact that its pine, that it's from our forest here in Belize, so I can safely say that people are very supportive of our product line."

Saturday's event saw only 500 visitors, nowhere near the thousands drawn annually to the BCCI Expo and Market Place. Yet, they are committed with the Government as their business partner to keep it going.

Kay Menzies - President, BCCI
"This is a partnership effort between us and the ministry and we are committed to having it continue. Where we need the support is from the public to come out here and see what the best of Belize is. You come out, you support your local businesses - you are helping to grow your economy and you are helping us to be able to have this fair continue so that more and more businesses can show off what is the best of Belize at a location like this."