WILLEMSTAD - On February 16th, a roundtable session was held to discuss advancements in the implementation of Curaçao's National Export Strategy (NES). During these sessions, several points within the NES, which showed significant progress, were highlighted. This marks a considerable source of satisfaction and pride for both the Minister of Economic Development, Mr. Ruisandro Cijntje, and the Ministry of Economic Development (MEO).
For nearly two (2) years, collaborative efforts have been underway with stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to implement our NES. Areas that came to the forefront during the roundtable session on February 16th, where significant growth was noted, included the local Information and Technology (IT) sector. Progress in this sector includes a significant step towards strengthening our digital infrastructure and connectivity with the new Caribbean Data Centers Association. Additionally, advancements in the Digital Hub Americas, which serves as a cornerstone for the local IT sector, allowing for the enhancement of both our technological capabilities and innovation.
Further in the coming year, a technological incubation program will be launched, serving as a platform for mentoring and accelerating developments in the field of artificial intelligence.
The Financial Services sector has also grown immensely. The new "Safe Financial Corridor" facility facilitates investments in Suriname using Curaçao's banking institutions, security exchanges, and trust companies. At present, there are six (6) tax legislations before the Parliament of Curaçao to modernize our tax regime and align it with international standards. This is especially in anticipation of the Financial Action Task Force Audit taking place this year, particularly regarding the agreement with the European Union on automatic exchange of financial account information.
During the roundtable session, advancements in our Creative and Medical Tourism sectors were also highlighted. Concerning our Creative Industry, a committee has recently been announced to establish a local association for this sector, dedicated to creating a unanimous definition of what the Creative Industry in Curaçao entails and aligning the entire sector. Meanwhile, the Medical Tourism and Wellness sector is moving towards establishing an association dedicated to the Wellness aspect to promote a more unified sector with added value. Additional activities in the sector include collaborative work with educators in both the Wellness and alternative medicine areas.
Current priority areas in the efforts to implement the NES include updating our necessary legislation and passing pending laws, as well as working on capacity building in other ministries. Currently, the Government Accountants Office Foundation (SOAB), under the leadership of the Ministry of Economic Development (MEO), is contributing to coordinating the efforts and monitoring the progress and results in the NES implementation process. This National Export Strategy aims to create job opportunities, enhance local capabilities, improve administrative procedures, increase foreign exchange earnings, and strengthen our country's regional presence. Achieving these objectives requires effort and dedication from those responsible for managing affairs in our country, combined with the agility and commitment of the private sector. Together, these efforts are putting Curaçao on the right track to fulfill the strategic vision of the NES, namely "Curaçao - where businesses thrive."