WILLEMSTAD - The lustrum edition of "Invest in Willemstad" is scheduled for Monday, December 4, and Tuesday, December 5, at the Maritime Museum. The purpose of this investment summit is to prominently position Willemstad internationally and locally as a prime location for investment and entrepreneurship. Through this summit, we aim to contribute to the goal of making Willemstad the most beautiful city in the Caribbean, a pleasant place to live, and an attractive destination for both residents of Curaçao and tourists to stroll around the historic center of Curaçao.
The inaugural "Invest in Willemstad" investment summit took place in 2019, four years ago. Following this multi-day event, organized by the Dutch employers' organization VNO-NCW and various Curaçaoan parties, participants were optimistic about the development opportunities for our UNESCO World Heritage city. A direct result of that summit was the purchase of the Plaza Hotel by the pension fund APC. Additionally, 12 other properties, which were on sale at that time, were sold and renovated by the new owners. Modest-scale follow-up mini-summits of Invest in Willemstad were organized in the years 2020-2022.
Since 2019, significant investments have been made in Willemstad. Larger projects such as The Wharf in Sharloo, WestEnd in Otrobanda, Majestic in Punda, and the Pyrmount Hotel in Pietermaai (= Penresort) have garnered attention. However, it is primarily the smaller projects contributing to the preservation of the city's cultural-historical character, such as the restoration of residential houses, the conversion of upper floors into apartments, and the transformation of buildings into boutique hotels or Airbnbs. With these investments, new entrepreneurs establish themselves, bringing increased activity to the city.
This year, Invest in Willemstad is once again being approached on a grand scale with a two-day summit in Scharloo, at the Maritime Museum, and Villa Maria. The summit starts on December 4, marking the day Willemstad received its UNESCO World Heritage City status 26 years ago. An interesting and comprehensive program is scheduled, featuring presentations and videos about the four city districts, stories from investors, entrepreneurs, and organizations involved with Willemstad, a panel discussion with Ministers Cijntje, Cooper, and Silvania, and much more. The program also provides an opportunity for potential investors, entrepreneurs, and operators to connect with property sellers or landlords in Willemstad.
Everyone in Willemstad, including property owners, intermediaries, and real estate agents, is invited to register their property on the InvestinWillemstad website. The goal is to create a (non-commercial) platform for interested investors or tenants, offering a comprehensive overview of all real estate in Willemstad on an interactive map.
The summit is intended for (potential) investors, (potential) entrepreneurs looking to do business in Willemstad, property owners looking to sell or rent, and facilitators offering services to investors and entrepreneurs.
You can still register to participate in this summit or view the program via the website. There are still a limited number of spots available. For participation inquiries, you can call 461-3918 or email steven.damiana@curacao-chamber.cw.