WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s Ministry of Economic Development (MEO) processed 96.7 percent of all economic permit applications received during the first half of 2026, despite experiencing a sharp increase in demand from businesses and entrepreneurs.
Between January and June, MEO received 1,828 applications for various economic permits. By comparison, the ministry received 2,820 applications during all of 2025. This means that in only six months, the number of applications had already reached 64.8 percent of last year’s full-year total.
Of the 1,828 applications received, 1,768 have been processed, leaving 60 cases, or 3.3 percent, still pending.
The largest category involved business establishment permits. MEO received 1,445 applications and processed 1,422, leaving only 23 pending.
The ministry also received 228 applications for temporary or permanent business locations, of which 213 were processed and 15 remained pending. Of 59 temporary or permanent street-vending permit applications, 54 were processed.
In the hospitality sector, MEO received 72 applications, processing 60 and leaving 12 under consideration. All 18 applications for branch establishment permits were processed.
Economic Development Minister Roderick Middelhof said entrepreneurs must be able to rely on government agencies to facilitate their plans both carefully and efficiently.
“These results show that our employees work every day to process applications efficiently,” Middelhof said. “At the same time, we continue to critically examine opportunities to further simplify and accelerate procedures.”
MEO said the increase in applications comes as Curaçao experiences new opportunities for economic activity. The ministry pointed to continued tourism growth, increased international exposure for the island, including through the Blue Wave and Curaçao’s historic participation in the FIFA World Cup, and what it describes as a growing entrepreneurial spirit.
According to MEO, government services must develop alongside those changes to ensure that entrepreneurs are not unnecessarily held back by administrative procedures.
The ministry said improving services to businesses and residents will therefore remain a priority during the remainder of the year.