WILLEMSTAD – Small and medium-sized businesses in Curaçao will remain part of a Dutch-backed credit guarantee program in 2027 aimed at helping companies obtain financing when they lack sufficient collateral.
The BMKB ACS program covers Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten.
According to the Netherlands’ proposed 2027 Kingdom Relations budget, the guarantee mechanism is intended to strengthen the economic structure and investment climate of the three Caribbean countries.
The scheme can help overcome a financing obstacle when a bank considers a business viable but the entrepreneur does not have enough collateral to secure the loan.
The future of the program beyond 2027 has not yet been determined.
The Dutch government says it will examine the program’s performance during 2027 and decide, as part of preparations for the 2028 budget, how the guarantee scheme should continue or be redesigned.
That assessment will also take into account the proposed Caribbean Economic Growth Platform and the amount of budgetary space available.
Existing obligations and loans will nevertheless be protected, according to the budget, ensuring that commitments already made to entrepreneurs continue to be honored.
The program is part of a wider Dutch strategy to encourage economic self-reliance and investment in Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten.