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.