WILLEMSTAD – On Tuesday, April 23, 2025, Curaçao’s Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas received a working visit from the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, Dirk Beljaarts. Minister Beljaarts is currently in Curaçao on a work visit aimed at strengthening economic cooperation and supporting local entrepreneurship. 

During the productive and cordial meeting, discussions were held about the BMKB credit guarantee scheme ("Borgstelling MKB-Kredieten") and the role of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), which facilitates financing under the BMKB arrangement. The two also touched on broader topics such as the economy and tourism, the link between the labor market and the education system, and the so-called "Tourism Satellite Account"—a globally recognized method for evaluating the economic impact of the tourism sector. 

Prime Minister Pisas concluded by emphasizing that for Curaçao, it remains essential to maintain strong understanding, relationships, and cooperation with the Netherlands. Minister Beljaarts expressed his appreciation for the Prime Minister’s forward-thinking approach. 

minister Beljaarts was accompanied by Ms. Irene Uitermark, Director of Regional Affairs and Spatial Planning at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Ms. Saskia de Reuver, Director of Kingdom Relations and Acting Representative of the Netherlands in Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten.