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Well, the CDB has provided the DFC it's 8th Consolidated line of Credit, and today, the infusion of new funding was celebrated with an official launch. Here's what the lead speakers had to say about how this money will be used:

Natalie Ewing-Goff - General Manager, DFC
"This 40-million dollar line of credit that we launch today is the single largest loan approved to the DFC, in its 55 year history, almost doubling the 21 million dollars that was approved under the 7th Consolidated Line of Credit, 3 years ago. The approval of the request to the CDB, for such a significant sum, is a signal of the confidence that CDB has in the DFC, and its potential to re-emerge as a model development financial institution. The launch of the 8th Line of Credit is also an opportunity for us to highlight the financial support CDB continues to provide to Belize. This most recent approval brings the total to 81 million dollars approved to DFC alone, since DFC was restructured in 2008. And, I repeat, as we do at every opportunity we have; if it was not for that first intervention by CDB to the newly restructured DFC in 2009, we would not be here. GOB's confidence in the DFC is also evident to day, as the Government provided a sovereign guarantee for the entire sum. In fact, GOB has provided the sovereign guarantee, as required for all loans approved to this DFC by CDB and other financial institutions. So, what will 40 million dollars be used for? Correction, what is the 40 million dollars being used for, for today is the official launch, but we already started to draw down. Our assistant general manager will provide more details in his presentation. But, once again, the focus is on business, and on productive center lending, with th continuation of renewable energy, efficiency program, mortgage financing, and education. The approval of this line has come at a most opportune time, coinciding with the adoption of DFC's bold new strategic development plan, dubbed building resiliency against climate change and economic volatility."

Franklyn Magloire - Assistant GM, Lending Operations, DFC
"DFC is going to mainstream climate resiliency in all its operations. DFC will ensure that it operates in an environmentally sustainable manner. The DFC will generate climate awareness among its clients. The DFC will ensure that the staff contingent is adequately trained to evaluate climate and environmental risk in development projects."

Dennis Jones - Chairman, DFC
"The 8th Consolidated Line of Credit is in no way different from the 7th and the previous lines. Essentially, it's broken up into credit for the productive sector, which includes agriculture, fisheries, tourism - those sectors. It has a component for residences because this is one of the ways that lower income people begin to own assets, which enable them then to access other credit lines. And, it also includes a portion for student loans, which is one way of ensuring that Belize can get the resources it needs to get people trained in those special areas of professional development that is critical to nation's sustainable development over time."

25 million dollars will be used in the productive sector. 5 million will be used in the residential sector, and 8 million will be used for student loans. The final 2 million will go to the DFC's new program called renewable energy and energy efficiency.