WILLEMSTAD - Micro, small, and medium enterprises make up 98 percent of all businesses in Curaçao. Together, they contribute to 30 percent of Curaçao's gross domestic product (GDP) and account for 60 percent of employment. 

These figures were announced on Thursday in the context of Entrepreneur's Day. "The figures demonstrate that these enterprises make an essential contribution to job creation, economic growth, and the empowerment of vulnerable groups," said Ruisandro Cijntje (PNP), the Minister of Economic Development (MEO). 

The Council of Ministers established Entrepreneur's Day at the proposal of MEO. In 2017, the United Nations declared this day as International MSME Day. Curaçao's version aligns with this initiative. 

This year's theme is 'Harnessing the Power and Resilience of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises to Accelerate Sustainable Development and Eliminate Poverty in Times of Multiple Crises.'