WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao and Sint Maarten should use the current period of economic growth to strengthen government finances, improve their investment climates and prepare their economies for future shocks, the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) says.
The CBCS September 2026 Economic Bulletin says both countries continue to demonstrate resilience, driven largely by tourism and ongoing private investment. However, the Bank warns that economic resilience should not be taken for granted.
One area requiring attention is government revenue.
According to the CBCS, recent developments in consumption-based tax revenues indicate that improved compliance efforts can contribute to stronger tax collection. Wage-tax revenues, however, have performed less strongly.
The Bank says this points to a need for more targeted measures involving payroll reporting and undeclared employment.
Increasing domestic government revenues during economically favorable periods would allow Curaçao and Sint Maarten to build fiscal buffers that could later be used when economic conditions deteriorate.
At the same time, the CBCS wants both countries to make it easier to conduct business.
President Ference Lamp said concrete measures should be taken to reduce administrative burdens, improve access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises and better align education and training with the skills employers need.
The Bank also calls for greater selectivity in public investment.
Rather than simply increasing government investment, public money should be directed toward projects capable of generating clear economic returns. The CBCS identifies transport and logistics infrastructure, climate resilience, energy security and projects that increase export potential as areas deserving priority.
Foreign investment also has an important role to play, but the Bank emphasizes the type of investment that should be pursued. Foreign direct investment that expands productive capacity, generates export earnings and improves international competitiveness would contribute to growth without increasing the government’s debt burden.
The broader objective, according to the CBCS, is to ensure that economic growth translates into improvements that residents can actually experience.
“Ultimately, the challenge is to translate the current economic momentum into lasting improvements in productivity, competitiveness, and living standards while strengthening resilience to future shocks,” Lamp said.
The Central Bank argues that investing in productive capacity while creating better conditions for businesses and workers will determine whether the current period of growth becomes a temporary upswing or the foundation for more sustainable and inclusive economic development.