FROM THE
CHAMBER BOARD
Chamber President Raoul Behr
Dear Entrepreneurs,
Our previous edition reflected on the value of connections in helping businesses take their next step. This month, we have seen how those connections can open doors—and why turning them into results requires both initiative and a
clear sense of direction.
International tensions, changing trade conditions and pressures on energy and transport continue to create uncertainty. For Curaçao’s entrepreneurs, these developments can influence purchasing decisions,
operating costs and the reliability of supplies.
They also reinforce the importance of exploring additional markets, developing partnerships and finding ways to
make our businesses more productive.
Our recent participation in HUB Maracaibo offered an
opportunity to put this into practice.
Through meetings with Venezuelan, Colombian and Trinidad & Tobago companies, we identified potential opportunities for Curaçao businesses and renewed our engagement with a nearby market. The interest we encountered provides a basis for further conversations. The next step is to assess where demand, capabilities and practical conditions align, and help entrepreneurs pursue promising contacts.
Closer to home, our Business Mixer brought entrepreneurs and stakeholders together to exchange ideas, explore partnerships and consider what could come next for our economy. Alongside the networking, we presented propositions intended to stimulate discussion about the conditions businesses need to invest, develop and grow.
This is also the thinking behind our Curaçao 2035 vision, introduced during the event. Economic growth matters, but so does what we build with it: stronger local businesses, broader opportunities and an economy better prepared for change. The article alongside this foreword explains the vision and the concrete initiatives we are advancing. For entrepreneurs, that wider ambition starts with practical decisions. A new business contact deserves follow-up. An opportunity requires preparation. An idea gains value when someone takes the first step towards making it work.
The Chamber will continue connecting businesses, sharing knowledge and contributing proposals that support entrepreneurship. I encourage you to explore this edition and reflect on where your
business could contribute to—and benefit from—Curaçao’s next stage of development.
Which opportunity will you take forward?