News item | 14-04-2025 | 10:45 AM
To strengthen economic cooperation and to stimulate local entrepreneurship, Minister Beljaarts (Economic Affairs) will pay a working visit to Curaçao on 23 and 24 April. During the visit, conversations and working visits are planned that contribute to innovation, economic growth and strengthening the competitiveness of the local economy.
For example, the minister speaks with the Curaçao Bankers Association (CBA) and Qredits Microfinancing Curaçao on the SKB credits (BMKB) guarantee for the ACS countries (Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten), which offers entrepreneurs extra financing and investment options. This regulation, which is already accessible to the European Netherlands, Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius (Caribbean Netherlands), will also be opened by the cabinet to Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten after the summer of 2025 because of the still limited financing options for the MKB (MKB). Many companies have difficulty investing and growing due to a lack of access to capital. This puts a brake on economic growth and hinders the expansion of companies, especially in sectors other than tourism.
To further explore the entrepreneurial climate in the Caribbean country, a round table discussion takes place with entrepreneurs on the island. Beljaarts also speaks with the chairmen of the Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Business Curaçao (VBC), the Social Economic Council Curaçao (SER) and Curaçao Investment & Export Promotion Agency (Cinex).
The visit also includes conversations with Governor He mw. Lucille George-Wout, outgoing Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas and informal encounters with group chairmen of the States of Curaçao.
Company visits to innovative entrepreneurs
Economic progress and innovation are high on the agenda of the visit. That is why Minister Beljaarts visits the Haven, the Curaçao Ports Authority (CPA) and 2bays Curaçao, where new economic activities are being worked on on the former Raffinageijterrein. A conversation is also taking place with members of the green hydrogen value chain Curaçao about the Maritime Making Industry and Innovation sector agenda.
In the College Hotel, where young people are trained for the Hospitality and Hospitality sector in collaboration with ROC Mondriaan, the minister will talk to representatives of the Curaçao Restaurant Association (CRA) and the Curaçao Hospitality and Tourism Association (Chata) about opportunities within the sector. The minister attends a meeting at Corendon where cooperation in tourism between entrepreneurs from the Netherlands and local entrepreneurs is central.