THE HAGUE - A subsidy of €130 million, approximately 253 million guilders, has been made available for sustainable economic development projects in Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. These funds are intended to support initiatives that contribute to climate change mitigation, energy transition, education, digital infrastructure, and food production, among other things. 

The subsidy scheme 'Strengthening Sustainable Earning Capacity' focuses on promoting the sustainable growth of the islands. Projects in the fields of public services, basic infrastructure, and the sustainability of economic sectors are also eligible. Additionally, subsidies can be applied for to cover the preparation costs of project proposals. 

For this scheme, €100 million (195 million guilders) is available for Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, and €30 million (almost 33 million dollars) for Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. The online consultation for this subsidy scheme is now also available in Papiamento and English. Interested parties can submit their comments and suggestions via the online consultation page until July 28. 

Potential subsidy applicants include private legal entities and natural persons running a business who wish to take advantage of the subsidy scheme. They are invited to respond to various components of the subsidy scheme based on their expertise.