WILLEMSTAD – The United Nations says Curaçao made significant progress over the past two years in modernizing customs operations and strengthening migration governance, two areas it considers essential for improving economic resilience and public administration.
In its Annual Results Report, the UN highlights reforms implemented with support from several UN agencies between 2024 and 2025.
One of the major achievements involved customs modernization through the implementation of new digital procedures under the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA World). Working with the Ministry of Justice, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) helped introduce conditional duty waivers, improve accounting reconciliation and strengthen oversight of discrepancies and customs offences.
According to the report, these reforms improve transparency, strengthen regulatory compliance and increase investor confidence by making customs administration more efficient and accountable.
The report also highlights work on migration governance. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), with funding from the Government of the Netherlands, helped Curaçao strengthen its evidence base on migration by collecting and analyzing data on irregular migrants and engaging government agencies, civil society and the private sector.
The UN says fragmented migration data had previously limited policymakers' ability to design effective, rights-based migration policies. The new research and analytical tools are intended to help authorities develop better policies on migrant integration, labor market participation and social stability.
The report concludes that strengthening institutions, improving data collection and modernizing public administration are key elements of building long-term resilience in Curaçao and across the Dutch Caribbean.