Global Competitiveness Survey Curaçao Competes 2014

In this era of globalization, it is critical that countries and the businesses that sustain them continuously measure their performance on a global level in order to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. Today more than ever, due to advances in technology and communication, companies and economies now have the capacity to expand their market base across the globe. As a result, all businesses and economies no longer just compete locally and regionally, but on a global level as well.

TEXT KARELJAN WILLIAMS

There has been no official benchmarking tool by which Curaçao can measure its global competitiveness, until now.
The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index (www.weforum.org) is the leading global comparison of factors that affect competitiveness of countries and firms. Since 1979, it is being published and ranks 148 countries based on their competitiveness. It is used to promote investments and exports, as well as to develop policies and measure their effectiveness.
Curaçao however, is not included in the index, primarily due to the size of its economy. There are also no plans by the WEF to include small economies in the official report.
Realizing the critical role this sort of index can play in the economic development of Curaçao, MarkStra Caribbean (local leaders in Research, Strategy, Competitiveness and Innovation), have, with the permission of the WEF, used the WEF methodology for devising its index, to conduct a survey specifically for Curaçao. The result of this survey is such that Curacao and its businesses are now able to have access to a report that not only benchmarks their competitiveness with the aforementioned 148 countries but also assists them in devising strategies for global sustainable competitive advantage.

The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index (www.weforum.org) is the leading global comparison of factors that affect competitiveness of countries and firms.

The name of this report is called Curaçao Competes. It was compiled in 2013 by selecting a sample of 82 Curaçao professionals with insight into international affairs relating to the sectors of Agriculture, Industry, Health, Tourism, Trade, Services and Telecommunications & Transport, especially in the Manufacturing, Wholesale/Retail and Financial Services and Insurance industries.
The key components of the report Curaçao Competes are as follows:
• Introduction to the pillars of competitiveness
• Methodology used for devising the report
• Findings: analysis and ranking for Curaçao
• Curaçao’s ranking and data-supported strengths and weaknesses against its major competitors so that Curaçao’s promoters know what to highlight to potential investors and clients
• Curaçao’s ranking against its major existing and emerging trade partners (e.g. Brazil, Colombia, Spain, USA, Holland)
• Assessment of the local business community with its own attention to business sophistication and attention to innovation, and therefore its own competitiveness locally, particularly when exporting and facing competition from international companies
• A game plan to increase the competitiveness (i.e. business sophistication and innovation ranking) of firms within the private sector
• An overview of innovative programs that other countries have implemented to improve their competitiveness, increase exports and attract investors. The overview focuses on our competitors, the Kingdom and existing and emerging trading partners
• A questionnaire stating all 140 factors that influence sustainable competitiveness

Globalization is expected to only increase in the future. Judging solely by the rate at which we change our technological devices such as computers and mobile phones, and the significant improvements that are continuously made to technology on a daily, monthly and annual basis, we can see that this is a very important issue that affects all businesses and economies. The world is becoming increasingly smaller, readily accessible to all with just the click of a button.
In order for Curaçao to rise up and make a significant mark on the world, and continue to do so, it is vital that all businesses incorporate sustainable global competitive advantage as a key point within their strategies. Curaçao Competes provides a huge step in this direction, not only towards implementing but also towards realizing this strategy.
Curaçao Competes 2014 – the Report, plus a presentation to your management team is available to your company for a minimal fee of ANG 1,850 (US $995) including OB. Like the WEF Global Competitiveness Index, Curaçao Competes is funded wholly by private enterprise, therefore, by purchasing and supporting the report you are not only taking a significant step towards placing and keeping Curaçao on the global map, but also contributing to making globally benchmarked data affordable and available for all of Curaçao.

To reserve your copy and presentation date, please contact tlacruz@markstra.com. For more information visit www.markstra.com