WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Chamber of Commerce is proposing changes to the island's approach to entrepreneurship and investment incentives, including fairer tax treatment for qualifying self-employed business owners and a more selective use of tax holidays to attract investments that contribute to economic diversification.
The proposals were highlighted during the Chamber's Business Mixer on October 15, 2026, where the organization presented its long-term economic vision, Wensbeeld Curaçao 2035.
One of the Chamber's main concerns is the rapid increase in the number of sole proprietorships registered on the island.
According to figures from the Trade Register, nearly 2,400 new sole proprietorships were registered during the first nine months of 2026, an increase of more than 66 percent compared with the same period last year.
The Chamber believes this development makes it increasingly important to examine whether the existing tax system provides an equitable environment for different forms of entrepreneurship.
To address the issue, the organization has commissioned a policy proposal aimed at creating a more level fiscal playing field for qualifying self-employed entrepreneurs.
The press release did not provide details of the proposed tax measures or indicate when the proposal might be submitted to the government.
The Chamber is also working on a new initiative called BedrijfsKompas Curaçao, which would make better use of information collected through the Trade Register.
The objective is to transform business registration data into more useful economic analyses that can support policy recommendations and provide greater insight into developments affecting the private sector.
The initiative comes as the Chamber reports contrasting trends in business registrations.
Although more than 3,400 new enterprises were registered between January and September 2026, approximately 38 percent more than during the same period in 2025, the total number of active registered businesses declined by about 5 percent compared with a year earlier.
The Chamber has called for further investigation to understand the reasons behind this development.
Another important issue raised during the Business Mixer was the effectiveness of fiscal investment incentives, particularly tax holidays granted to encourage investment.
The Chamber's chairman questioned whether these incentives should be applied more selectively.
Rather than evaluating investment proposals primarily according to their financial size, the Chamber believes greater attention should be given to their potential contribution to economic diversification, productivity, and innovation.
Under this approach, investment incentives would be assessed according to the broader economic benefits they could generate for Curaçao.
The Chamber identified several sectors that could offer opportunities for future development, including digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, advanced maritime services, sustainable energy, and innovative food production.
It also highlighted the Schottegat area as a location with potential for new economic activities.
The Chamber did not announce specific investment projects for these sectors but presented them as opportunities that deserve consideration within a broader economic development strategy.
The organization emphasized that the government has an important role in facilitating investment and providing effective public governance.
However, it maintained that entrepreneurs must ultimately take responsibility for converting economic opportunities into viable businesses, employment, and lasting economic value.
The proposals form part of the Chamber's broader vision for Curaçao in 2035, which seeks to connect economic policy, entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment decisions to a common long-term objective.
For the Chamber, attracting more businesses and larger investments is not sufficient by itself. The priority should be ensuring that economic activity contributes to a more diverse, productive, and sustainable economy.