Economic sectors

Logistic

This oldest productive sector of the island is increasingly adapted to the requirements of the times.

Current situation

• Natural seaport with modern infrastructure.
• Largest commercial dock in the region (120,000 tons).
• Modern container port with room for expansion.
• Container terminal expansion.
• Expansion port area.
• Airport runway for the biggest aircrafts.
• Economic development around the airport in full swing.
• Economic Zones in the port and airport.
• Modern e-commerce and e-zone legislation and regulation.
• Installation of a modern radar system for an even safer airspace
• The long-standing relationship with the port of Rotterdam and Schiphol creates confidence for entering into new forms of cooperation.

Near future

• Second mega-pier
• Expansion opportunities terminal building with more capacity and facilities.

Market opportunities

• Port-related manufacturing and distribution.
• Distribution from Economic Zone is now more attractive with E-zone legislation.
• More capacity for container handling.
• Export-oriented industries with the Free Zone facilities.
• Financing and construction of the second mega-pier.
• Port development in the region from Curacao.
• Acquisition of / participation in Dutch Caribbean Airlines or parts thereof (ground handling, catering).
• Participation in the construction of new terminal building and related activities.
• Financing, construction and management of an airport hotel.
• Participation in development around the airport.
• Attracting General Aviation traffic (private and business aircraft).
• Participation in Cargo Shuttle for optimum distribution of air in the region.
• Development of Space Experience Curacao www.spacexc.com
• Participation in operation for the distribution of mail in the region.
• Aviation-related maintenance –and reparation companies with with free zone facilities.
• Distribution of property resulting from e-commerce activities.

Tourism

Introduction: Tourism is a priority on the agenda of the government and enjoys a lot of interest from private investors. In 2010 the Curacao tourism grew almost across the board compared to the previous year; only the South American market had a decrease of42.8%, mainly due to the challenges within the Venezuelan market, bringing the total decline over the overall 2010 tourism growth in -6.8% . In the first half of 2011 continued with a positive trend in all markets growing overall with 25%.The growth per market were respectively North America 32%, South America 50%, Caribbean 27% and Europe with a 7%.

Current Situation

• Willemstad on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
• Mega pier outside the port accommodates largest ships.
• Thorough upgrading of the district Otrobanda, adjacent to the harbor.
• Well-developed diving tourism and local ecotourism.
• Hundreds of new hotel rooms completed.
• International hotel chains operating in Curacao.
• Luxury 18 hole golf course overlooking the sea.
• Daily flights from and to Amsterdam, Miami, Caracas and other
• Competition on transatlantic routes by 'open skies' policy.
• Arkefly and KLM connect Curacao and Amsterdam on a daily basis
• Increase in direct flights: * directly connected to North America: Charlotte, Miami, Toronto * Europe: Amsterdam Daily (Arkefly and KLM), Dusseldorf and Milan weekly *South America: Bogota, Brasilia, Caracas, Medellin and Valencia.

Near Future

• Development of new resorts.
• Further development of existing projects.
• Construction of the second mega-pier.

Market Opportunities

• Financing, construction and / or management of (luxury) hotels and resorts.
• Development and / or management of natural parks and nature funds.
• Development of golf courses and marinas.
• Development and management of sites for (water) recreation.
• Construction and management of hospitality businesses.
• Renovation of historic buildings and houses for commercial purposes.
• Participation in development of the Brion Square at the harbor entrance.
• Organization of local art studios.
• Financing and setting up a commercial hospitality school for the region.

IT & E-Commerce

Curacao has competitive initiatives and activities in ICT and e-commerce area, these companies offer great incentives to settle on the island.

Current Situation

• E-commerce law governs agreements to be concluded electronically.
• Economic Zone Act Free Zone provides facilities for e-commerce companies.
• Tax benefits for e-commerce through the New Fiscal Framework and Tax Kingdom.
• Multiple providers for mobile and international telephony.
• More than enough Internet bandwidth to Internet service Providers, e-commerce etc.
• Increased bandwidth by connecting to Americas II fiber optic cable and Arcos.
• Wi-Fi (wireless IP) licenses to interested companies.
• Active Office (Stimul-IT) for the promotion of ICT.
• Active e-commerce platform with the participation of 20 companies.
• Banks that handle e-commerce related payment.
• Synergy between factors such as professional, financial, logistical and fiscal services.

Near Future

• Activities and measures to improve the competitive position.

Market opportunities

• E-companies that prioritize in digital transactions.
• E-commerce server farms.
• E-commerce companies focused on Latin America.
• Wireless Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
• Computer disaster recovery centers.
• Offshore software factories.
• Information brokers.
• Expansion of existing IT courses at the university.

Utility

New developments are opening up good prospects for the sector as an economic focal point to criticize.

Current Situation

• Strategic partnership with Marubeni leads to investment room for the local Aqualectra.
• The strategic partnership with Marubeni includes using its international network in order to attract foreign investment.
• Various strategic studies with projections up to 2020.
• Two wind farms provide 10% of peak power.
• Expansion of the usable power with modern diesels.
• Selection of Reversed Osmosis (RO) as a base technology for drinking water production.
• Expansion of the RO capacity.
• BOO plant (MW) Isla refinery in September 2003 into operation.
• Utilities Dutch DELTA utility companies are already active on Curacao through DELTA Caribbean and DELTA wind farms.

Near future

• Expanding capacity for RO drinking water.
• Start decentralized water production.
• Final Voltage at the end-usage is increased gradually from 50 Hz to 127 V230/400 V
• Further automation of production and distribution.

Market opportunities

• Purchasing and supply of materials for the production base and distribution network.
• Products and services for expansion and replacement programs.
• Privatization and / or SPCs of parts of the electricity and water production.
• Investments in the utility sector, partly in renewable energy generation.
• Delivery of knowledge.