WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Investment & Export Promotion Agency (CINEX) continues to reinforce Curaçao’s role as a strategic trade and investment hub in the region. In June, CINEX led a dynamic trade mission to Suriname and actively participated in the Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit (SEOGS) alongside prominent Curaçaoan companies such as Curoil, Amicorp, Navigator Insurance, and other key representatives from the private sector.
The high-level mission aimed to strengthen regional investment ties and position Curaçao as a vital gateway to the Caribbean. At SEOGS, CINEX presented a visually striking and interactive booth that served as both a networking hub and a platform to showcase the island’s growing energy sector. At the center of the display was Curoil, symbolizing Curaçao’s competitiveness in oil and gas.
Strategic Talks with Industry Leaders
Throughout the summit, CINEX held strategic discussions with major industry players including Staatsolie, TotalEnergies, Petronas, and others. These talks opened new opportunities to promote Curaçao as a regional service center for the energy sector and a reliable entry point to the Caribbean market.
CINEX also engaged in high-level talks with Afreximbank, a pan-African multilateral financial institution, which recently announced a US$ 5 billion Local Content Facility to support Suriname’s energy and economic development—$1.6 billion of which is earmarked for financing Suriname’s national oil company. This represents a new era of Africa-Caribbean economic cooperation.
Financial Milestones and Cross-Border Investment
A notable milestone was also celebrated by CINEX partner, the Dutch Caribbean Securities Exchange (DCSX), which officially listed bonds from Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname N.V. worth USD 468.7 million and EUR 43.5 million. This move aligns with Curaçao’s positioning as a financial gateway, marking progress in regional capital market integration and highlighting the island’s leadership in facilitating cross-border investments.
To strengthen long-term collaboration, CINEX signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Suriname Investment and Trade Agency (SITA) and the Suriname Energy Chamber, formalizing joint efforts to promote trade and investment between the two countries.
The mission also underscored the benefits of the Bilateral Tax Agreement between Curaçao and Suriname, which facilitates investment by avoiding double taxation and preventing tax evasion.
Tangible Results and Growing Partnerships
CINEX’s sustained engagement is already yielding concrete results. Following a previous trade mission, Navigator Insurance Company successfully partnered with the Kersten Group to establish Kersten Insurance Broker, tapping into Suriname’s rapidly growing insurance market—an impactful example of Curaçaoan service exports.
At the same time, major Surinamese companies like Assuria have expanded operations into Curaçao and are now actively collaborating with local service providers, further boosting two-way investment momentum.
Looking Ahead
CINEX is now exploring participation in key regional platforms such as the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) in Grenada, where Africa-Caribbean cooperation continues to gain momentum. The agency is preparing investment-ready projects to ensure that Curaçao remains highly visible and strategically positioned for future engagement with international investors and institutions such as Afreximbank.
“Our mission is clear: to build meaningful bridges between Curaçao and international partners,” said Pedro A. Vega Orozco, Commercial Manager at CINEX. “Whether you’re an investor or a service provider, CINEX is your gateway to new markets and long-term growth.”
