LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Readers,

Building the economic future of Curaçao has always been a challenge as Small Island economies tend to be vulnerable to international developments and have limited resources. Moreover, the act of building the economic future implicitly requires alignment within the nation in vision and concerted action to allocate resources to areas of priorities. As the economic development in small and open economies always seems to defy logic, the crux of the matter is the ability to identify opportunities with a potential return and the ability to convert those into actual sustainable economic activity.

In this edition the newly appointed Minister of Economic Development offers a first impression of his take of the future of our economic development, “There are times in the history of a country when the opportunity for a major initiative could become a significant trigger to economic development,” referring to an upcoming estimated investment of 3 billion US dollars in oil refining activities. Following a recent strategic take-over investment of Damen Shipyards in the Curaçao Drydock, a significant investment in the overall renovation of the Marriott hotel, and a soon-to-be-built second hotel located at the airport. It is this ability to convert opportunities into competitive economic activities, which has been carrying our diversified economy for the last few decades, one sector enabling the other. In this edition we also showcase exporting activities of local producers, and announce our second international Curaçao Business Point Conference -an initiative of this Chamber on innovation, quality and patent, during which specialists will guide you through in-depth workshops in deepening your knowledge about managing the innovation, quality and patent process.

In the meantime, enjoy this edition!

Billy Jonckheer

President Curaçao Chamber and Commerce and Industry